Flood Disaster

Floods are the most frequent type of natural disaster and occur when an overflow of water submerges land that is usually dry. Floods are often caused by heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt or a storm surge from a tropical cyclone or tsunami in coastal areas..

Floods can cause widespread devastation, resulting in loss of life and damages to personal property and critical public health infrastructure. Between 1998-2017, floods affected more than 2 billion people worldwide. People who live in floodplains or non-resistant buildings, or lack warning systems and awareness of flooding hazard, are most vulnerable to floods.

Between 80-90% of all documented disasters from natural hazards during the past 10 years have resulted from floods, droughts, tropical cyclones, heat waves and severe storms. Floods are also increasing in frequency and intensity, and the frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation is expected to continue to increase due to climate change.

Drowning accounts for 75% of deaths in flood disasters. Flood disasters are becoming more frequent and this trend is expected to continue. Drowning risks increase with floods particularly in low- and middle-income countries where people live in flood prone areas and the ability to warn, evacuate, or protect communities from floods is weak or only just developing.

Deaths also result from physical trauma, heart attacks, electrocution, carbon monoxide poisoning or fire associated with flooding. Often, only immediate traumatic deaths from flooding are recorded.

The magnitude of the physical and human costs from floods can be reduced if adequate emergency prevention, preparedness, response and recovery measures are implemented in a sustainable and timely manner. STDWO works with Member States to build resilient and proactive health systems that can anticipate the needs and challenges during emergencies so that they are more likely to reduce risks and respond effectively when needed.

Top Crises

We are living in a world out of balance. Find out what is driving the most pressing humanitarian crises around the world.

11 December 2024
Last updated: 11 December 2024

Photo: Kingsley North for the STDWO.

Borno, Nigeria Flooding

The flood situation in Borno State has had a significant impact, affecting 414,176 people, with 389,267 displaced and 7,155 houses damaged across nine local government areas (LGAs).

STDWO in collaboration with Borno SEMA and various stakeholders, has established 26 IDP camps in Maiduguri, accommodating 310,963 displaced individuals (54,260 households). The camps include:

Food and non-food items are being distributed by STDWO, the state government, and other partners in most camps, with some still receiving wet feeding. Efforts continue to provide assistance and support to those affected by this crisis.

San Diego Flooding

A huge pool of Pacific moisture unleashed explosive rain on San Diego County Monday, flooding neighborhoods from the South Bay to Oceanside, turning roadways into rivers, prompting dozens of rescues and knocking out power to thousands.

On January 22, 2024, STDWO gathered an unprecidented storm passed over San Diego, California, and poured 2-3 inches of rain in 3 hours. This represents the most rain the city is recorded to have ever experienced on a day in January and ranks within the top five quantities of rainfall the city has experienced in the last 174 years (Leonard 2024). As a Pacific Coast city with a warm climate and regularly sunny weather, this amount of precipitation overwhelmed the city's drainage capacity in low elevation communities, flooded the San Diego River, triggered emergency evacuation procedures, and caused significant public infrastructure closures, including the evacuation of the city's police headquarters (Leonard 2024).

Ostrava Czech Republic Flooding

Exceptionally heavy rainfall pounding Central Europe has prompted deadly flooding in the region, with four new deaths reported Monday in Poland, three in the Czech Republic and one in Romania.

The flooding has swamped parts of Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland and Romania as a low-pressure system crossing the region has unleashed record-high rains for days, and it was expected to affect Slovakia and Hungary later in the week. So far 16 people have been reported killed — seven people in Romania, five in Poland, three in the Czech Republic and one in Austria.

Western Germany and neighboring countries

STDWO gathered that atleast 120 people have died and hundreds more in western europe are unaccounted for after some of the worst flooding in decades.

Europe flooding death toll surpasses 180 as rescuers dig deeper Daily, the impacts of climate change continued to be seen across europe

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