Floods occur when water covers land which is normally dry.
People who live near rivers, or in low-lying coastal areas, live with the greatest threat of floods. Periods of heavy rain, not necessarily in their area, can lead to rises in the water level of streams and rivers to a point where channels can no longer hold the volume of water. Alternatively, for some coastal dwellers, there is the threat from the sea as mentioned above and explained later. The rivers here are steeper and flow more quickly, with flooding sometimes only lasting for one or two days. These floods can be potentially much more damaging and can pose a greater risk to loss of life and property.