What Causes Flooding in Residential Areas?

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

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

Top 5 Causes of Flooding in Residential Areas

Flooding happens around the world for many reasons, 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 human activity or natural factor, flooding can trigger disastrous situations and even claim the lives of many individuals in the worst-case scenario. So to help alleviate the casualties of urban flooding, here are five factors you should watch out for.

1. 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 block the massive rainfall, which prevents flooding.

2. 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 heavily for prolonged periods. This causes drainage systems to back up and water to rise, primarily in populated residential areas. Heavy rains are responsible for most residential flooding and water-damaged houses.

Water damage caused by rains can have disastrous effects on houses and buildings, which explains why many people employ remediation companies during rainy seasons. If you’re looking for remediation professionals to fix water damage in your home, you may search for “restoration companies near me” to see specific results.

3. Overflowing rivers

You don’t need 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 live in these areas often employ water restoration specialists after the flood due to the damage caused by the disaster. You may browse the web to see their water removal services.

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

4. Collapsed dams

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

5. Climate change

Climatic changes caused by uncontrolled human activities are major contributors to urban flooding in most 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.