FLOOD BASICS

A flood is an overflow of water that causes or threatens loss of life and property, and damages the environment.

The severity and frequency of flooding is affected by:

• Extreme rainfall.
• High temperatures causing rapid snow melt.
• High temperatures causing ice break-up.
• Storms with high winds.
• Soil moisture conditions.
• Ice jams - especially during winder mild spells and spring thaw.
• Wind chill conditions that produce a large amount of slush in fast-moving water that is too rough to freeze.