SERVPRO of South Nashville, When Does Rain Become A Flood?

11/3/2020 (Permalink)

The total cost of the 279 unique weather and climate disasters in the U.S. between 1980 and 2019 where damages and costs have exceeded $1 billion has totaled more than $1.825 trillion. One of the main costs associated with this unfathomable figure has been (and continues to be) floods caused by rainfall. A recent local example of this figure came in the form of the March 2020 flooding of Tennessee that totaled well over $3 billion in damages.

This is why it’s important to protect yourself and your property when the time comes by understanding who to contact for Flood Damage in Nashville. Let’s understand more about how to spot rain before it becomes a flood to ensure your property can survive a traumatic event.

How Fast Do Raindrops Fall?

Not including wind-driven rain, raindrops fall between 7 and 18 miles per hour (3 and 8 meters per second) in still air. The range in speed depends on the size of the raindrop. Air friction breaks up raindrops when they exceed 18 miles per hour.

What Defines a Flood?

A flood results from days of heavy rain and/or melting snows, when rivers rise and go over their banks. There are 3 common types of floods:

• Flash floods are caused by rapid and excessive rainfall that raises water heights quickly, and rivers, streams, channels, or roads may be overtaken.
• River floods are caused when consistent rain or snowmelt forces a river to exceed capacity.
• Coastal floods are caused by storm surges associated with tropical cyclones and tsunami.

What is a Flash Flood?

A flash flood is sudden flooding that occurs when floodwaters rise rapidly with no warning within several hours of intense rain. They often occur after intense rainfall from slow-moving thunderstorms. In narrow canyons and valleys, floodwaters flow faster than on flatter ground and can be quite destructive.

Protecting Your Property From Flood Waters

This is why it’s so important to know the differences between a lot of rain and a potential flood. If you feel that floodwaters have done damage to your property in the past, present, or future, then it’s time to be proactive and make the call to SERVPRO of South Nashville at 615-697-4190 today for a consultation.