What are flash floods?
Flooding that occurs within 6 hours, and frequently within 3 hours, of heavy rain or thunderstorms is called a flash flood. They can sometimes occur even when no rain has fallen due to reasons like dam failure.
These floods can also occur in cities. When it rains a lot in a city, the flooding can be worse than in the suburbs. Since the cities are covered with hard surfaces like roads and sidewalks, the water can't soak into the ground. Instead, it flows towards low-lying areas.
Recently, New York City, in the USA, faced flash floods.
What was the reason behind the flash flooding in New York?
Heavy rainfall caused flash flooding in New York City on 29th September 2023. The floods stopped subway service, drowned some apartments on the ground floor, and even covered some streets with water.
Some buses couldn't move, and people had to wait a long time. Luckily, no fatalities occurred, but many people in the city were affected. They had to walk in knee-deep water. Many cars got stuck on the highways. A state of emergency was also declared. Rescue teams helped people all over the city.
Currently, things are slowly returning to normal. New York’s governor, Kathy Hochul, said climate change is the reason behind frequent storms that cause heavy rainfall and floods. The National Weather Service said this was New York City's wettest September since 1882.
What to do if there is a flash flood warning?
It's important to have an emergency kit ready with essential supplies that can be taken during evacuation. One must keep checking the weather alerts if a big storm is coming. This can help one understand what's happening and what should be done to stay safe.
If there's a flash flood, and water enters one’s apartment, they must leave immediately. If a person is in a car and a flash flood happens, they must climb onto the car's roof so rescuers can find them.
If one is walking when a flash flood appears, one must run to the highest place possible. If in a subway, one must leave the station quickly. These are some things that must be done during flash floods.
