Health Indicator Report of Flooding
Climate experts project that as the climate continues to change, so will the frequency of extreme weather events. Such events have the potential to adversely affect human health and are therefore a public health concern. Droughts, floods, and wildfires have occurred in Utah, but the question is whether climate change will influence the frequency of these extreme weather events.
Notes
Flash flood: A rapid and extreme flow of high water into a normally dry area, or a rapid water level rise in a stream or creek above a predetermined flood level, beginning within six hours of the causative event (e.g. intense rainfall, dam failure, ice jam). However, the actual time threshold may vary in different parts of the country. Ongoing flooding can intensify to flash flooding in cases where intense rainfall results in a rapid surge of rising flood waters. [4]Flood: Any high flow, overflow, or inundation by water which causes or threatens damage. [4]
4. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, National Weather Service (2009). Glossary - Definitions of flood and flash flood. Retrieved on December 21, 2016 from http://w1.weather.gov/glossary/
Data Source
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Centers for Environmental InformationDefinition
Flooding refers to any high flow, overflow, or inundation by water which causes or threatens damage.Numerator
This Indicator Report contains the following variables:- Total cost due to flood damage (in U.S. dollars)
- Number of deaths and injuries from floods
- Number of flood events by type
Denominator
Not Applicable.What Is Being Done?
The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness is in operation to coordinate local, state, and federal agencies in assisting health care systems with emergency preparedness and how to respond when a disaster strikes. If a flood or any other type of disaster were to occur, the UDOH has implemented a 24-hour statewide support line to assist public health professionals and health care providers in supplying aid to the community. At the federal level, the CDC has a web page dedicated to educating the public on how to prepare for a flood and what should be done after a flood. Topics include water safety, sanitation and hygiene, mold, and precautions to take post-flooding. Flood information from the CDC can be accessed at https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/
Page Content Updated On 05/20/2022,
Published on 07/07/2022
