The recent research published by USGS showed some astonishing and pretty confusing results. Scientists came to the conclusion that forest fires are making floods much more frequent and destructive. In other words, once you live in an area that has gone through significant wildfires in the past couple of years, it is high time to get flood gates or learn sandbagging as the next massive flooding in your region is just behind the corner.
Let`s go through the USGS report and other sources and understand how such seemingly opposite disasters like forest fires and floods can actually be interrelated.
The connection between forest fires and destructive floods.
Wildfires leave a huge amount of debris behind them. Those burnt and broken branches, trees, dead animals, and other elements cover the ground, temporally changing the terrain in the area.
Let`s say, if several decades have passed in your area without any forest fires, heavy seasonal rainfall or snowmelt might not have caused that much trouble. The water soaked in the ground freely or went directly to the nearest water bodies through a complicated chain of creaks and streams.
However, the consequences of wildfires, debris left behind, and chemicals that are sometimes used by firefighters change the terrain itself, the quality and density of soil.
Water simply cannot soak in that freely through layers of wood, cinder, and other consequences of a wildfire. The passage to streams and creeks often gets blocked by debris that prevents water from going directly to rivers and lakes as it is supposed to.
Moreover, that debris blocks man-made drainage, making flood relief measures that your local services have taken simply inefficient.
Eventually, even a moderate seasonal rainfall, not to mention a massive one, can cause significantly destructive flooding empowered with massive debris, heavy objects, and mud that will move directly towards your house without a chance to be stopped or soaked on the way.
Not only pretty massive, but such floods are also hazardous because they are often unexpected. Statistically, residents and local authorities appear to be unprepared for floods right after a series of forest fires in the area.
So, in other words, it is a pretty confusing statistic: people don`t expect massive flash floods after a series of forest floods, but at the same time, scientists say that those kinds of floods are particularly plausible in the areas that have experienced wildfires even if the region has a significantly low flood rate.
Does it mean that floods will become routine in my area now?
Nature has all the necessary mechanisms that allow it to renovate efficiently without any human interference. It means that if your area is historically not prone to floods, and they have suddenly stroke your neighborhood after a massive forest fire, it does not necessarily mean that from now on, flash floods will become your annual routine.
According to the scientists` data, the debris is processed within a couple of years, making the terrain "normal" again. However, although that is definitely some good news, you should prepare for the following:
- The year right after the forest fire is the most dangerous. As little as 7mm of rainfall during 30 minutes can cause a massive destructive flash flood like it has recently happened in South California. a 10mm rainfall can lead to an ultimate debris-flow-disaster that can cause massive property damage and take lives;
- Forest fires and floods that follow them cause surface erosion. This process can cause long-lasting changes to the terrain and soil quality. It changes the character of groundwater, affects agriculture, and alters the structural integrity of buildings and constructions. In other words, it is best to think about enforcing your house right after a forest fire in the area as the worst is only up to come;
- Traditional anti-flooding solutions may appear inefficient. While sandbagging requires a placement on a clear and stable surface and the dam consists of numerous smaller elements (sandbags), such anti-flooding solutions may not only appear inefficient in the face of a debris flow but contribute to its destructive power, turning sand and sandbags into additional submunitions.
How to protect yourself from post-fire flash floods?
Hopefully, after reading this article, you are forewarned, which means forearmed, and all know. However, being aware of the upcoming danger is not enough to protect your family and your property from it.
Let`s see what can you do to reduce the risks and prepare thoroughly for upcoming flooding:
- Do the research. According to USGS recommendations, right after the forest fire event, local authorities should monitor the soil and ground waters, highlighting all possible changes. Whether there is a river, a lake, or any other water body in the area, your local authorities must arrange massive debris clean to prevent its built-up. In case no such activity is happening in your region after a wildfire, it is essential to draw people`s attention to the issue;
- Create a personal flood plan. Even if floods have never happened in your neighborhood, it is always best to have a personal flood plan. Check your house thoroughly, determine and eliminate any leaks and weak points that can welcome water inside in case of a flood. Clean your gutters and drainage thoroughly. Instruct your family about actions that should be taken in case of a flood;
- Protect your property. While local services may appear inexperienced in the face of a flash flood after a wildfire, you can protect your house efficiently and avoid the most destructive flood consequences. Temporary flood gates can help you prevent floodwater from getting into your house as well as the basement and garage.
They say that the one who has burn won`t sink. However, practice demonstrates the opposite. Even more, floods after forest fires are incredibly plausible, even if your area has no history of significant floods in the past 100 years.
Contact Dam Easy today and learn about modern, compact, user-friendly, and efficient anti-flooding solutions, including the flood gates that have already helped thousands of people worldwide protect their properties from water damage and destruction.
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