Given a passage and a query based on the passage, generate an unambiguous, concise and simple answer to the query from information in the passage. Note that the answer may not be present in exact form.
Q: What are the consequences of floods? Floods impact on both individuals and communities, and have social, economic, and environmental consequences. The consequences of floods, both negative and positive, vary greatly depending on the location and extent of flooding, and the vulnerability and value of the natural and constructed environments they affect. In Australia floods are the most expensive natural disasters. In Australia, floods are the most expensive type of natural disaster with direct costs estimated over the period 1967-2005 averaging at $377 million per year (calculated in 2008 Australian dollars). Reply to ASK-AN-EARTH-SCIENTIST Subject: Environmental Effects of Floods I'm doing a report on the effects of flooding on the environment. Can you help me? What can people do to help ease flooding? I live in an area where flooding hardly occurs; What could I do to help people that live in those areas? You asked about the effects of flooding on the environment. This is a pretty broad question, but I'll try to provide some answers to what I think you are asking about. First, floods are part of the natural cycle of things. The benefits of natural floods almost certainly outweigh the negative aspects. References and further reading. 1 Apan, A, Keogh, DU, King, D, Thomas, M, Mushtaq, S & Baddiley, P 2010, The 2008 floods in Queensland: a case study of vulnerability, resilience and adaptive capacity. Report for the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Gold Coast. There are positive and negative impacts of floods on the Ecosystem. The sudden appearance of a large quantity of flood water can benefit plant life. The under ground stored water can be replenished by the floodwater, while soil above ground can soak up the water. As a result, the plants receive water. Insurance of the structure and its contents against flooding can reduce the impacts of floods on individuals or companies. Floods have significant consequences for the environment In many natural systems, floods play an important role in maintaining key ecosystem functions and biodiversity. The problems start when flooding occurs in areas of large-scale human development of the landscape. In areas largely inhabited by people, there are both positive and negative environmental effects of flooding. Floods can distribute large amounts of water and suspended river sediment over vast areas. Skip links and keyboard navigation. 1 Skip to content. 2 Skip to navigation. 3 Skip to footer. 4 Use tab and cursor keys to move around the page (more information) Floods have large social consequences for communities and individuals. As most people are well aware, the immediate impacts of flooding include loss of human life, damage to property, destruction of crops, loss of livestock, and deterioration of health conditions owing to waterborne diseases. Floods also have a downside. Ecosystems depend on a careful balance of factors, and the sudden impact of a flood can quickly disrupt this. While floods affect mainly dry land, water-based habitats are at risk from the runoff of the flood. The run-off contains sediment and products such as pesticides and fertilizers, and will carry these into the ecosystem. Query: how does floods affect the ecosystem
A:
Impact of floods on the ecosystem includes replenishing of the underground stored water, loss of human life, destruction of crops, deterioration of health conditions owing to waterborne diseases, and soaking of water by soil above ground.