Flood

Definitions

European Definition

Flood is the temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water.

This shall include floods from rivers, mountain torrents, Mediterranean ephemeral water courses, and floods from the sea in coastal areas, and may exclude floods from sewerage systems; ‘flood risk’ means the combination of the probability of a flood event and of the potential adverse consequences for human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity associated with a flood event.

International definitions

WHO

Overflowing by water of the normal confines of a stream or other body of water, or accumulation of water by drainage over areas which are not normally submerged.

National Definitions

Netherlands

Overstroming: ‘het bezwijken of overlopen van dijken, kaden, sluizen of andere waterkeringen’.

See also

• Event
• Disaster
• Natural Hazard
• Threat