Flash Floods

9/21/2023 (Permalink)

Every year, flash floods affect every state in the US, making them the number one weather-related killer in the country. According to The Weather Channel, floods, which are often characterized as high flows or overflows of water from rivers or similar bodies of water, occur over a longer period of time than flash floods.

Flooding can be caused by various factors. Winter or spring rains, combined with melting snow, can rapidly fill river basins. Additionally, torrential rains from decaying hurricanes or tropical systems can lead to river flooding. An example of this is the Mississippi River Flood of 1993, which resulted from weeks of heavy rain from thunderstorms.

On the other hand, flash floods are sudden and quick-rising floods triggered by heavy rainfall within a short period, sometimes lasting only a few hours. They can also occur due to ice jams on rivers during winter or spring thaws, or even from dam breaks. The influx of water causes a dangerous overflow that can sweep away vehicles, dislodge boulders onto roadways, uproot trees, destroy buildings, and wash away bridges. The speed at which the water rises is particularly alarming.

Coastal flooding, on the other hand, occurs when strong onshore winds push water from the ocean, bay, or inlet onto land. This can happen during tropical storms and hurricanes, resulting in storm surges, or even during non-tropical storms like "nor'easters."

SERVPRO of LaGrange Park/North Riverside specializes in flood and storm damage restoration, which forms the foundation of our business. With extensive training in water damage and storm restoration, we are equipped to swiftly restore your home to its normal state.