7+-+Flood



A **flood** is an overflow or accumulation of an expanse of water that submerges land.[|[1]] In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the [|tide].
 * __ WHAT IS FLOOD? __**

Flooding may result from the volume of water within a body of water, such as a [|river] or [|lake], which overflows or breaks levees, with the result that some of the water escapes its normal boundaries.[|[2]] While the size of a lake or other body of water will vary with seasonal changes in precipitation and snow melt, it is not a significant flood unless such escapes of water endanger land areas used by man like a village, city or other inhabited area.

Floods can also occur in rivers, when the strength of the river is so high it flows out of the river channel, particularly at bends or meanders and causes damage to homes and businesses along such rivers.

While flood damage can be virtually eliminated by moving away from rivers and other bodies of water, since time out of mind, people have lived and worked by the water to seek sustenance and capitalize on the gains of cheap and easy travel and commerce by being near water.

That humans continue to inhabit areas threatened by flood damage is evidence that the perceived value of living near the water exceeds the cost of repeated periodic flooding.

The word "flood" comes from the [|Old English] //flod//, a word common to Germanic languages (compare German //Flut//, Dutch //vloed// from the same root as is seen in //flow, float//). The specific term "The Flood," capitalized, usually refers to the great //Universal Deluge// described in the[|Bible], in [|Genesis], and is treated at [|Deluge].


 * **Resources on Floods** ||
 * [[image:http://i.infoplease.com/images/tv/arrw_yel_theme.gif width="8" height="15"]] || [|What Is a Tsunami?] ||
 * [[image:http://i.infoplease.com/images/tv/arrw_yel_theme.gif width="8" height="15"]] || [|River Erosion] ||
 * [[image:http://i.infoplease.com/images/tv/arrw_yel_theme.gif width="8" height="15"]] || [|Hurricane Basics] ||
 * [[image:http://i.infoplease.com/images/tv/arrw_yel_theme.gif width="8" height="15"]] || [|Flooding Safety] ||


 * Further readings:** [|**Flood.**] [|**National Geographic**]