Floods

What Is a Flood?
A flood is a large amount of water overflowing into normally dry areas.
Floods are the most frequent and costly disasters to impact New Zealand. The
most common cause of floods is continual heavy rainfall. Other causes include
tsunamis and coastal storms.
A flood is considered dangerous when:
• the water is very deep;
• the water flow is fast;
• the water rises quickly;
• the water carries hazards, such
as trees and debris.
Weather systems that hit New Zealand can bring
heavy rainfall that results in flooding. These systems are often
enhanced by the mountains in New Zealand. Moist air is forced up
and over the mountains; as it moves, it tends to condense and produce higher
rainfall. The West Coast in New Zealand is one of the wettest regions in
the world due to this process.
There are different types of floods. Some develop very slowly over time after
extensive rain while others develop in just a few minutes, without any sign
of rain. There are many ways floods can occur, including overflowing rivers,
extreme coastal events, by ground saturation from a lot of rainfall or by
catastrophic failure in infrastructure.
Floods can be a localised event, affecting a small area of land. They can also
have an impact on entire islands or river basins, often causing disaster.

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Types of Floods
River Flooding
Heavy rainfall can cause rivers to overflow their banks. Water can flow into
flat areas next to the river called floodplains. This is one of the most common
types of floods that occur inland.
Flash Floods
Flash floods are caused by heavy, sudden rainfall. The ground cannot absorb
the water as fast as it is falling. Flash floods can be fast-moving, dangerous
and often occur with little warning.
Coastal Floods
High tides and tsunamis can cause large amounts of sea water to flow onto
normally dry land. This is known as a coastal flood. While they occur naturally,
human activity in the coastal environment can make flooding more likely. Taking
water from reservoirs underground near coastal zones can cause the land to
subside, which increases the risk of flooding. Building sea walls along coast lines
is designed to protect some areas from flooding. In turn, this can cause erosion
to nearby areas of the coast that the water is then forced to flow into. As
a result, these other areas become at risk of flooding.
Urban Floods
Many urban areas have drainage systems in place to channel water. Flash
floods can occur when rain falls faster than these systems can drain. These
floods can happen quickly, often restricting access to roads and causing damage
to buildings.
Debris Flow
Sediment can enter flood waters from landslides. Strong flood waters can also
‘pick up’ debris as they move. Debris flows can cause damage to homes, roads
and bridges.

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What Are the Impacts of Floods?

Floods can result in:
• injury;
• loss of life;
• damage to property;
• loss of stock;
• contamination of water and land;
• damage to roads, bridges and railway tracks.
A major flood can take months or even years to recover from. In the period
between 1968 and 2017, New Zealand had more than 80 damaging floods.

What Can Be Done?

Some measures can be taken to minimise the effects of floods.
These include:
• installing good drainage systems to help prevent flash flooding;
• avoiding overdevelopment of floodplains;
• being prepared by having plans in place for moving livestock;
• having evacuation plans and supplies;
• communities having local public alerts systems;
• listening to condition updates on radio or online;
• sandbagging areas to try to create a barrier from flood waters;
• placing valuables as high as possible during times when floods are a risk;
• filling bathtubs, sinks and other areas with clean, fresh water to maintain
supplies in case other water sources become contaminated.

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Questions
1. What is a flood?



2. Circle the statement that is true:
a. Floods are rare in New Zealand and when they do hit, they tend to do little damage.
b. Floods are the most frequent and costly disasters to impact New Zealand.
c. Floods are frequent in New Zealand but have little impact on the economy.
3. What are two factors that may make a flood dangerous?


4. Match these flood types to the correct questions or statements below:
urban floods flash floods coastal floods
river floods debris flows
Access to roads and damage to buildings can occur when urban drains can’t cope with
the rainfall. These are called .

occur when heavy rainfall causes rivers to overflow their banks.

Floods involving seawater flowing onto the land are known as .

happen when sediment from landslides or debris in the path of flood

waters enters the water and is swept along with the flood.

Heavy, sudden rainfall can result in water not being absorbed into the ground as fast
as it is falling. This can cause .

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5. What are the closest bodies of water in your area (rivers, lakes or coasts) that may be
at risk of flooding during heavy rain fall or storms?



6. Look at the image on the first page. What are three things that might be directly
impacted by the flood?



7. Name three negative impacts that can result from a flood.



8. Research a significant flood that has happened in New Zealand and write a paragraph
about it.
Some information you may like to include:
What year did the flood occur?
What caused the flood?
What impact did the flood have?










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Answers
1. A flood is a large amount of water overflowing into normally dry areas.
2. a. Floods are rare in New Zealand and when they do hit, they tend to do little damage.
b. Floods are the most frequent and costly disasters to impact New Zealand.
c. Floods are frequent in New Zealand but have little impact on the economy.
3. Any two of the following:
• The water is very deep
• The water flow is fast
• The water rises quickly
• The water carries hazards, such as
trees and debris
4. Access to roads and damage to buildings can occur when urban drains can’t cope with
the rainfall. These are called urban floods.
River floods occur when heavy rainfall causes rivers to overflow their banks.

Floods involving seawater flowing onto the land are known as coastal floods.

Debris flows happen when sediment from landslides or debris in the path of flood waters
enters the water and is swept along with the flood.

Heavy, sudden rainfall can result in water not being absorbed into the ground as fast
as it is falling. This can cause flash floods.
5. Answers will vary.
6. Students might identify a range of impacts including access to business, roads, transport,
power, people, homes, safety and access to services, such as clean water.

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 Floods - Answers
7. Any three of the following
• Injury
• Loss of life
• Damage to property
• Loss of stock
• Contamination of water and land
• Damage to roads, bridges and railway tracks
8. Answers will vary.

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