The document discusses floods, including what they are, their causes, types, and risks. It defines a flood as the temporary covering of normally dry land with water. Floods are categorized based on their source (such as rivers, rain, or coastal flooding), speed of onset, and geographical scope. Areas at high risk of flooding include coastlines, waterways, low-lying terrain, and urban centers. The document outlines signs that a flood may occur like heavy rain, high winds, or rising water levels.

1. E-Learning Module for
Adults
Floods

2. Part 1: Prevention
e-Learning for the Prevention, Preparedness and Response to
Natural Disasters
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• WHAT IS A FLOOD? (causes and characteristics)
• THE TYPES OF FLOODS
• WHERE DOES A FLOOD COME FROM AND WHERE CAN IT HIT?
• WHAT TO BE AWARE OF IN THE AREAS? WHAT IS THE IMPACT?
• WHEN DO YOU KNOW IF A FLOOD MIGHT HIT?
• WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF A FLOOD?

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4. Part 1: Prevention
Floods - What are they?
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To be able to prevent a
flood, you must be able to
identify the flood. The
definition of a flood can be
a variety of things and the
same applies to the cause.
Image courtesy of nattavut at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Floods - What are they?
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To be able to prevent a
flood, you must be able to
identify the flood. The
definition of a flood can be
a variety of things and the
same applies to the cause.
The word "flood" covers a wide
spectrum, as it can be everything
from a flooded basement to a
more permanent flood in
connection with natural
incidents, such as rise in the sea
level, tectonic subsidence or
manmade structures such as dam
or dikes who breaks.
Image courtesy of nattavut at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Floods - What are they?
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A flood is flooding of time limited character where normally dry areas are covered in water.

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Floods - What are they?
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A flood is flooding of time limited character where normally dry areas are covered in water.
A temporarily flood is caused by a time limited increase in water influx e.g. due to
cloudburst, heavy and long lasting rain, melting snow who runs into a lake, stream or a
fjord. Temporarily floods in lowland terrain also can be caused by one or more of
combinations of flash flood incidents.

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Floods - What are they?
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A flood is flooding of time limited character where normally dry areas are covered in water.
A temporarily flood is caused by a time limited increase in water influx e.g. due to
cloudburst, heavy and long lasting rain, melting snow who runs into a lake, stream or a
fjord. Temporarily floods in lowland terrain also can be caused by one or more of
combinations of flash flood incidents.
Flooding from waste water is dealt with by the municipality. Waste water covers all water
including rain water derived from residential areas, commercial activity, buildings in
general as well as forted areas.

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Floods - What are they?
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Flooding in Europe is divided into categories
measured by following criteria:
Image courtesy of khuruzero at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Flooding in Europe is divided into categories
measured by following criteria:
•The source of the flood
Image courtesy of khuruzero at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Floods - What are they?
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Flooding in Europe is divided into categories
measured by following criteria:
•The source of the flood
•Geographical extent of the flooded area
Image courtesy of khuruzero at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Floods - What are they?
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Flooding in Europe is divided into categories
measured by following criteria:
•The source of the flood
•Geographical extent of the flooded area
•Cause of the flood
Image courtesy of khuruzero at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Floods - What are they?
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Flooding in Europe is divided into categories
measured by following criteria:
•The source of the flood
•Geographical extent of the flooded area
•Cause of the flood
•Speed of the flood
Image courtesy of khuruzero at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Floods - What are they?
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The source of the flood refers to where the water
comes from. That means if the water comes from
the sea (coastal flooding), from streams (stream
flooding), from above (flooding due to rainwater)
or from below (flooding due to ground water).
The source of the flood is closely connected with
the geographical extent of the flooded area.
Image courtesy of khuruzero at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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The geographical extent of the flooded area
refers to:
Image courtesy of khuruzero at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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The geographical extent of the flooded area
refers to:
•Flooding in coastal zones and in river estuary,
where the water enters in to low-lying coastal
areas.
Image courtesy of khuruzero at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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The geographical extent of the flooded area
refers to:
•Flooding in coastal zones and in river estuary,
where the water enters in to low-lying coastal
areas.
•Flooding of areas along creeks and rivers, where
the creeks or rivers overflow their banks.
Image courtesy of khuruzero at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Floods - What are they?
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The cause of the flood can be heavy precipitation,
flash flood, earthquake (tsunami), hurricanes, etc.
Common to them all is that they are made
because of the weather. Flooding also can occur
due to breach on manmade protection from
flooding, such as dikes, or other barriers based on
keeping water out of areas.
Image courtesy of khuruzero at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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The speed of the flood refers to the time
perspective in connection with the occurrence of
the flood and can be violent and sudden, e.g.
during a precipitation incident or occurrence
over time, where the water accumulates over days
or weeks in catchment of big river basins.
Image courtesy of khuruzero at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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21. Part 1: Prevention
Types of floods
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Types of floods
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When land along the coast is flooded by
the sea. Coastal flooding can include
flooding caused by any of the following:
storm surge, tsunami, sea level rise,
coastal subsidence.

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Types of floods
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Sudden onset flooding that is usually
associated with very intense localised
rainfall. Peak discharges are only
maintained for a matter of hours or
even minutes.

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Types of floods
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Flooding that occurs when water volume and/or
flow is too great to be contained within a river
channel.

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Types of floods
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Fluvial flooding is a type of flooding
that can occur when relatively flat land,
usually in more rural areas, becomes
saturated. Direct rainfall rather than a
river causes the flood, hence the name
“pluvial”.

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Types of floods
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Flooding caused by drainage problems
within urban areas. This can include
sewer flooding and back water caused
by blockages in storm-water drainage
systems.

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28. Part 1: Prevention
Sources of a flood
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29. Part 1: Prevention
Sources of a flood
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Heavy rain

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Sources of a flood
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Heavy rain
Flash flood

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Sources of a flood
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Heavy rain
Flash flood Melting snow

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Sources of a flood
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Heavy rain
Flash flood Melting snow Break on dikes

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Sources of a flood
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dness and Response to Natural Disasters
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Earthquake under
water (tsunami)Heavy rain
Flash flood Melting snow Break on dikes

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Floods - What are they?
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Example of high risk ares:

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Floods - What are they?
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•Coastal lines
Example of high risk ares:

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Floods - What are they?
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•Coastal lines
•Streams and lakes
Example of high risk ares:

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Floods - What are they?
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•Coastal lines
•Streams and lakes
•Lowland and flat terrain (heavy rain)
Example of high risk ares:

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•Coastal lines
•Streams and lakes
•Lowland and flat terrain (heavy rain)
•Upper catchment
Example of high risk ares:

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Floods - What are they?
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•Coastal lines
•Streams and lakes
•Lowland and flat terrain (heavy rain)
•Upper catchment
•Urban areas
Example of high risk ares:

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41. Part 1: Prevention
Awareness and impact
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Flooding in lowland coastal areas can have severe
consequences such as fatalities and economic
damage. The probability of disasters from flooding
in coastal areas is low and the flooding can be
alerted one or more days in advance as this type of
flood often will be a flash flood. However the
flooding can hit a large geographical area, where a
large amount of people live.

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Awareness and impact
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Flooding from streams normally affects large
areas of the lower catchment and can be
foreseen several days before the incident
occurs. The speed of the flooding will be low,
but can nonetheless lead to severe damage.
Image courtesy of nattavut at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Flooding in the upper catchment, urban
areas, etc., normally occurs locally after
heavy precipitation incidents. This type of
flooding can spread out of a whole region,
if the situation of the weather is
characterized of a big low-pressure area.
The flooding can have a severe effect in
densely populated areas, which primarily
covers material damages.

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Suddenly severe occurred flooding occurs, among
others, in mountainous terrain and can occur very
locally. This is the most common type of flooding in
Europe. The consequences of this type of flooding is
often catastrophic, because of the high speed of the
flooding (flood surge), and the large amount of drifting
goods. This can include a large number of fatalities and
severe material damage.Image courtesy of nattavut at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Another, and more frequent, cause of suddenly
severe occurred flooding is cloudburst which can
occur within a short time and can hit very locally,
with severe damages as a result.
Image courtesy of nattavut at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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47. Part 1: Prevention
When can there be a flood?
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Strong winds

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When can there be a flood?
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Strong winds
High waterline coast by
strong wind

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When can there be a flood?
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Strong winds
High waterline coast by
strong wind
Shows high water level
coast by storm

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When can there be a flood?
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Strong winds
High waterline coast by
strong wind
Shows high water level
coast by storm
After a storm

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When can there be a flood?
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Heavy rain Basement filled with
water

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53. Part 1: Prevention
The signs of a flood
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•You can have difficulties in moving around
Image courtesy of coward_lionat FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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The signs of a flood
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•You can have difficulties in moving around
•The water can be polluted and hide obstacles
Image courtesy of coward_lionat FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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The signs of a flood
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•You can have difficulties in moving around
•The water can be polluted and hide obstacles
•The flood can cause damage to the surroundings.
oNature – fallen trees
Image courtesy of coward_lionat FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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The signs of a flood
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•You can have difficulties in moving around
•The water can be polluted and hide obstacles
•The flood can cause damage to the surroundings.
oNature – fallen trees
oBuildings – collapse
Image courtesy of coward_lionat FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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The signs of a flood
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•You can have difficulties in moving around
•The water can be polluted and hide obstacles
•The flood can cause damage to the surroundings.
oNature – fallen trees
oBuildings – collapse
oLandslide and mudslide
Image courtesy of coward_lionat FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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The signs of a flood
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•You can have difficulties in moving around
•The water can be polluted and hide obstacles
•The flood can cause damage to the surroundings.
oNature – fallen trees
oBuildings – collapse
oLandslide and mudslide
•You are in risk of getting too cold if the flooding is in the winter
Image courtesy of coward_lionat FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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