Flood is a natural disaster that occurs when an excessive amount of water overwhelms dry land. Floods can be caused by heavy rain, melting snow, storm surges from hurricanes or tsunamis, or overflowing rivers, lakes or other bodies of water. Floods can cause extensive damage to buildings, infrastructure and crops as well as loss of life and displacement of people. To reduce flood risk, individuals and communities should stay informed about weather forecasts and flood warnings, understand their flood risk level, prepare their homes in flood-resistant ways, and have emergency plans in place.