Top 5 Causes of Flooding in Residential Areas

Flooding in residential areas is one of the major challenges of the government today. Due to certain factors, this concern happens every year. The possibility of this occurring worldwide is common and expected, as this topic frequently appears in the news. Covering every possible factor for residential flooding can be a worthwhile discussion since this happens a lot.

Understanding what causes urban flooding helps people prepare and be knowledgeable about what to anticipate when a flood seems likely to occur. Now let’s talk about the contributing factors of flooding in residential areas to help you be proactive.

What causes flooding in residential areas?

Flooding happens around the world for many factors, but why does it occur? Most of the time, human activities are blamed for it. However, natural factors are usually the culprits on numerous occasions. But be it a natural factor or human activity, flooding can cause devastating situations and even claim the lives of many individuals in the worst-case scenario. So to help mitigate the casualties of urban flooding, here are five factors you must look out for.

1. Heavy rainfall

Heavy rains are the simplest cause of flooding. Homes have infrastructure design and drainage systems that help during heavy rains. However, these systems stop working when it rains intensely for prolonged periods. This causes drainage systems to back up and water to rise, particularly in populated residential areas. Heavy rains are responsible for most residential flooding and water-damaged houses.

Water damage caused by rains can have devastating effects on houses and establishments, which explains why many people employ remediation companies during rainy seasons. You may visit websites like www.puroclean.com for more details on their professional services.

2. Overflowing rivers

You don’t have to experience heavy rains all the time for floods to happen. Areas near the rivers or streams are prone to flooding during an overflow or nonstop rainfall. People who reside in these areas often employ water restoration contractors after the flood due to the damage caused by the disaster. You may check their website for detailed information on their services.

Some large rivers have a series of dams to control the large amounts of water during flooding, commonly managed by government authorities. However, sometimes the authorities have to make challenging decisions on operating dams. They can stop flooding and control water, but not all the time.

3. Climate change

Climatic changes due to uncontrolled human activities are major contributors to urban flooding in many regions. Humans cut trees in large numbers, significantly affecting the process of photosynthesis. This is responsible for the increased level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, causing climate change and posing threats of natural disasters like floods, storms, droughts, heat waves, and wildfires.

4. Collapsed dams

Dams hold water upstream. So if the dams collapse, these will release water downstream, causing floods. In addition, collapsing dams can cause significant casualties and water damage to homes in low-lying areas. The excess moisture from the flood can cause mold infestations in homes. These molds should be eliminated by mold removal experts as removing them the DIY way comes with various health risks.

5. Deforestation

The reckless cutting of trees, or deforestation, is a major cause of man-made floods. Trees prevent the loss of crops and soil erosion. The existence of many trees enhances the vegetation and helps obstruct the massive rains, which prevents flooding.