What are the main effects of a flood?

Answer 1

Floods displace persons, destroy belongings, create grieving/heartache among victims, separate families, remove persons from their homes, and create feelings of powerlessness/hopelessness/and helplessness.

Medically, victims lose needed medications, must go without needed medications in the immediate aftermath of a flood, and can thereby trigger stable chronic conditions to become unstable. Floods can trigger acute medical conditions, such as Asthma attacks or heart attacks.

After flood waters recede, mud, debris, garbage, sewage, etc. combine to leave behind bacteria. Within a few days mildew begins. Mold can develop within a few short days, including deadly black mold.

The physical stress of clean-up can trigger new or old conditions, in addition to creating immediate injuries such as falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, etc. Any open skin tear can become infected from contact with soiled items.