Science Seminar: Earth Science

This page explains what actions to take when you receive a flood watch or warning alert from the National Weather Service for your local area and what to do before, during, and after a flood.

n the Midwest and Northeast, big storms that historically would only be seen once every 20 years are projected to happen as much as every 4 to 6 years by the end of the 21st century. At the same time, shifts in snowfall patterns, the onset of spring, and river-ice melting may all exacerbate flooding risks.

At least 1,000 homes were flooded in Harris County, according to Emmett. Some people were trapped in their homes or attics, fire department spokesman Ruy Lozano said.

n terms of lives lost and property damaged, floods are just behind tornadoes as the top natural disaster. In the United States, flood damages totaled $8.41 billion in 2011. There were 113 flood-related deaths. Floods can affect any area to some degree; wherever rain falls, flooding can occur. - See more at: http://www.livescience.com/23913-flood-facts.html#sthash.GsHGW0lq.dpuf

A river flood occurs when water levels rise over the top of river banks due to excessive rain from tropical systems making landfall, persistent thunderstorms over the same area for extended periods of time, combined rainfall and snowmelt, or an ice jam.

Cities face harsher, more concentrated rainfall as climate change not only intensifies storms, but draws them into narrower bands of more intense downpours,

A watershed is an area of land that drains rainwater or snow into one location such as a stream, lake, or wetland.

We all live in a watershed, and watershed condition is important to everyone and everything that uses and needs water. This website is about Healthy Watersheds – their importance to our waters, how they can be assessed and protected, what EPA is doing and watershed protection efforts that may be occurring in your area.

Our waters provide habitat for a myriad of species, recharge groundwater and provide opportunities for wildlife viewing and other outdoor recreation. Climate change is drastically altering the water cycle as we know it, bringing more intense storms, floods, droughts, and sea-level rise as well as reduced habitat for many species.

What is a watershed? Learn about watersheds with this clip from Surfrider Foundation's educational video "From Sea to Summit: A Journey through the Watershed."