Flood Control

Flood Control

Are floods constructive or destructive????

Some Information about Floods You Should Know....

• Flooding is the most common natural disaster.

• Floods can happen at any time of the year, in any part of the country, and at any time of the day or night.

• Heavy precipitation is the common cause of flooding.

• Hurricanes, winter storms and snowmelt are often overlooked as causes of flooding.

Multiple Choice

True/False. Floods are only destructive processes.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True/False. Flooding is the most common natural disaster.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the most common cause of flooding?

• Hurricanes

• Winter storms and snowmelts

• Tornadoes

• Heavy precipitation

Floods!! Why Stop Them?

They can be costly and can have enormous destructive power.

WAYS TO PREVENT FLOODING!!!!

DAMS CAN BE BUILT

• A dam is a large barrier that is built across a river; this wall blocks or stops the flow of water, forming a reservoir or a lake.

• A dam's primary purpose is to retain water. Dams hold back water during heavy rainfall.

• This water can then be released slowly, sometimes or always. This prevents flooding.

• Dams protect things and people located downstream.

LEVEES CAN ALSO PREVENT FLOODING

• A levee is a wall of earth or concrete built along the banks, or edges, of a body of water.

• Levees often run parallel to rivers.

• Just like dams, a levee's main purpose is to hold back water.

• People build levees to keep rivers or lakes from flooding low-lying land during storms.

Seawalls Can Prevent Flooding of the Coast

• A sea wall is a wall built to protect land along the coast, or the edge of land near the sea, from erosion and flooding from the sea.

What about Storm Drains?

• Storm drains are drainage systems which are specifically designed to handle excess water as a result of flooding or heavy rainfall.

• They move excess water into rivers and streams and eventually to the ocean.

• They are prevent flooding on the road, in yards, and around homes and businesses.

Multiple Choice

Which statement is TRUE?

• Dams are built along a river; and, levees are built through a river.

• Dams are built through a river; and, levees are built along a river.

• Both dams and levees are built through a river.

• Both dams and levees are built along a river.

Multiple Choice

True/False. Levees are only man-made.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What is the main difference between seawalls and levees?

• Seawalls protect lands near rivers and lakes; levees protect coastal lands.

• Seawalls protect coastal lands; levees protect lands near rivers and lakes.

Multiple Choice

What is a system of pipes or channels that carry away storm water to rivers and eventually oceans?

• Levees

• Storm drains

• Seawalls

• Dams