What Are the Consequences of a Flood?

Rising in frequency due to the environmental effects of El Niño and rapid deforestation, floods now account for 40% of all natural disasters in the world, according to a report prepared for Oracle Thinkquest. Though the onset of a flood can occur in a matter of minutes, the environmental and social consequences of this natural disaster can linger for years.

Displacement

• During the 2005 Hurricane Katrina disaster, the New Orleans Superdome sheltered thousands of homeless Americans.

  One of the most immediate and devastating effects of a serious flood is the displacement of individuals whose homes have been destroyed. Because other weather phenomena, such as hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes, often accompany floods, the destruction of homes can be irreparable. Relief shelters constructed to facilitate the homeless can be cramped and over-crowded, and often they are not sufficiently equipped to facilitate a high number of occupants for extended periods of time.

Public Health

• Flood waters can also mean a rise in mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and encephalitis.

  Unsanitary, over-crowded conditions in relief shelters often lead to a marked rise in communicable diseases. Often these diseases occur due to a decline in sanitation and personal hygiene. In addition, claims the Oracle Thinkquest report, skin disorders and water-borne pathogens like Shigella pose a threat to those who frequently wade through high flood waters

  The Oxford Journal Epidemiologic Reviews discusses the physical injuries that individuals caught in a flood may experience due to downed power lines, trees and other debris. These injuries may be sustained during the initial onset of the flooding or afterward during the clean-up effort. Injuries that would have otherwise been minor, such as a cut on the leg, may become more serious or even life-threatening due to the inaccessibility of hospitals.

  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is very common among people who have witnessed the destruction of their homes, according to the Oxford Journals Epidemiologic Reviews. The anxiety of these individuals is linked to the flood and can impede their ability to move forward with their lives. Substance abuse problems have also been linked to large scale natural disasters.

  Perhaps the most pressing public health issue that arises as a result of floods is the contamination of water sources. Sewer leaks and chemical spills can release fecal matter, toxins and other pathogens into the water supply. Because of the large number of displaced individuals, contamination can make securing enough clean water for all homeless flood survivors nearly impossible, claims FEMA.

Economy

• A community devastated by floods will require a massive amount of money to rebuild. One of the first priorities is to secure a clean water supply by repairing any damages to the water-providing utilities. Those affected by flooding must dispose of foodstuffs that necessitate refrigeration.

  The destruction of homes and buildings means the loss of almost all business revenue. Although this small economic crisis may last for a short period of time, it can end up costing a flood-devastated community millions of dollars.

  Free state-administered public health services need a large budget to provide services for all who are injured or ill. Other state-administered programs, such as a public health surveillance system (formed to monitor illness outbreaks in the wake of a flood), also require large amounts of money to function, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.