The Causes of Flooding

You already know that floods can cause major damage to your home, car and belongings. But what causes flooding? Essentially, a flood occurs whenever water is introduced to an area faster than it can be absorbed. This can happen when:

Heavy rainfall exceeds the ground's drainage capacity
Rivers overflow and flood the surrounding areas
Tropical storms and tsunamis crash over coastal areas
Dams or levees (designed to control excess water flow) fail or break, resulting in downstream flooding
Manmade water control goes awry, such as when a pipe bursts

The chances of a flood occurring are determined by the following factors:

Water volume: This directly correlates with the time span over which the water enters the area. If more water enters an area than can be drained in a period of time, than flooding will occur.
Topography: Higher and/or more absorbent areas (like fields or forests) can handle more water than lower and/or paved, developed areas. This is especially true in developed areas with poor drainage infrastructure.
Tidal influences: If rainfall or other forces cause a flood during high tide, the coastal area is much more likely to flood than if these forces struck during low tide.

While you can't stop a flood from occurring, you can prepare your home if one is predicted in advance. Move everything you can to high shelves or cabinets, store irreplaceable heirlooms and valuables somewhere safe, take pictures of your belongings for insurance purposes and create an emergency plan with your family.

We'll help rebuild your life. Call Danback Insurance Agency at (512) 454-4567 for more information on Austin flood insurance.

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