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Complete Health Indicator Report of Flooding

Definition

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.

Why Is This Important?

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.

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/]


Related Indicators

Related Relevant Population Characteristics Indicators:




Graphical Data Views

Extreme Weather: Cost due to Flood Damage, Utah, 1996-2021

::chart - missing::

In Utah, long-term rainfall, rapid spring snowmelt, dam breaks, and flash flooding are the four primary ways floods occur [1]. No matter how it occurs, flooding can be extremely dangerous to the health of Utah citizens. In terms of climate change, the data regarding how climate change may affect flood frequency is minimal. The EPA reports that the number of heavy rainfall occurrences has increased and these occurrences lead to increased flooding events. Yet, the EPA recognizes that this is not happening in all areas [2]. Whether it is an abundance of snowmelt runoff, a heavy thunderstorm, or dam failure, floods can negatively affect public health in a number of ways. One of the primary concerns is contaminated drinking water. Floods can move massive amounts of debris and compromise sewage systems, which can contaminate the drinking water supply. Waterborne diseases such as giardia are transmitted through the consumption of contaminated water (polluted with fecal matter) and can cause debility and even death. Stagnant flood waters can become a breeding ground for vector-borne diseases, like West Nile virus, that could impact individuals who are displaced by a flood. Severe floods can knock over power lines and damage homes, allowing the release of hazardous chemicals into the community [3]. Other health concerns include drowning and injuries directly related to flooding.
Property Damage vs. Crop DamageYearTotal Cost (in U.S. dollars)
Record Count: 52
Property Damage1996$5,312,000
Property Damage1997$7,099,000
Property Damage1998$1,688,000
Property Damage1999$125,000
Property Damage2000$640,000
Property Damage2001$148,000
Property Damage2002$4,397,000
Property Damage2003$1,841,000
Property Damage2004$1,509,000
Property Damage2005$300,157,000
Property Damage2006$8,710,000
Property Damage2007$2,833,000
Property Damage2008$175,000
Property Damage2009$160,000
Property Damage2010$29,980,500
Property Damage2011$3,715,000
Property Damage2012$11,142,000
Property Damage2013$3,145,000
Property Damage2014$5,375,000
Property Damage2015$1,595,000
Property Damage2016$5,152,000
Property Damage2017$19,590,000
Property Damage2018$1,620,000
Property Damage2019$139,000
Property Damage2020$5,390,000
Property Damage2021$21,881,000
Crop Damage1996$0
Crop Damage1997$70,000
Crop Damage1998$571,200
Crop Damage1999$7,000
Crop Damage2000$39,000
Crop Damage2001$36,000
Crop Damage2002$120,000
Crop Damage2003$55,000
Crop Damage2004$0
Crop Damage2005$0
Crop Damage2006$0
Crop Damage2007$0
Crop Damage2008$10,000
Crop Damage2009$40,000
Crop Damage2010$0
Crop Damage2011$0
Crop Damage2012$0
Crop Damage2013$0
Crop Damage2014$0
Crop Damage2015$0
Crop Damage2016$0
Crop Damage2017$0
Crop Damage2018$0
Crop Damage2019$0
Crop Damage2020$0
Crop Damage2021$0

Data Notes

Cost reported in U.S. dollars. Data includes damage from floods and flash floods. [4][[br]] [[br]] ---- 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 Information


In Utah, long-term rainfall, rapid spring snowmelt, dam breaks, and flash flooding are the four primary ways floods occur [1]. No matter how it occurs, flooding can be extremely dangerous to the health of Utah citizens. In terms of climate change, the data regarding how climate change may affect flood frequency is minimal. The EPA reports that the number of heavy rainfall occurrences has increased and these occurrences lead to increased flooding events. Yet, the EPA recognizes that this is not happening in all areas [2]. Whether it is an abundance of snowmelt runoff, a heavy thunderstorm, or dam failure, floods can negatively affect public health in a number of ways. One of the primary concerns is contaminated drinking water. Floods can move massive amounts of debris and compromise sewage systems, which can contaminate the drinking water supply. Waterborne diseases such as giardia are transmitted through the consumption of contaminated water (polluted with fecal matter) and can cause debility and even death. Stagnant flood waters can become a breeding ground for vector-borne diseases, like West Nile virus, that could impact individuals who are displaced by a flood. Severe floods can knock over power lines and damage homes, allowing the release of hazardous chemicals into the community [3]. Other health concerns include drowning and injuries directly related to flooding.[[br]] [[br]] ---- 1. Barjenbruch, K., McInerney, B., Watanabe, J., & Siebeneck, L. (2008). Utah natural hazard handbook: Floods/flash floods. Retrieved January 12, 2017 from Be Ready Utah: [https://www.utah.gov/beready/documents/HazardsHandbookDraft8.pdf][[br]] 2. Environmental Protection Agency (2016). Climate change - Science, temperature changes. Retrieved December 21, 2016 from the United States Environmental Protection Agency: [https://www.epa.gov/climate-change-science/understanding-link-between-climate-change-and-extreme-weather][[br]] 3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012). Emergency preparedness and response: Floods. Retrieved December 21, 2016 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: [https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/after.html][[br]][[br]]
YearInjury SeverityNumber of Cases
Record Count: 44
2000Injury0
2000Death0
2001Injury0
2001Death1
2002Injury1
2002Death0
2003Injury0
2003Death0
2004Injury0
2004Death0
2005Injury6
2005Death1
2006Injury1
2006Death2
2007Injury0
2007Death0
2008Injury2
2008Death2
2009Injury0
2009Death0
2010Injury3
2010Death0
2011Injury2
2011Death1
2012Injury0
2012Death1
2013Injury0
2013Death0
2014Injury2
2014Death2
2015Injury3
2015Death20
2016Injury0
2016Death0
2017Injury3
2017Death0
2018Injury0
2018Death0
2019Injury0
2019Death0
2020Injury0
2020Death2
2021Injury4
2021Death1

Data Notes

Data includes damage from floods and flash floods. [4][[br]] [[br]] ---- 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 Information


Extreme Weather: Number of Flood Events by Flood Type and Year, Utah, 2000-2021

::chart - missing::

In Utah, long-term rainfall, rapid spring snowmelt, dam breaks, and flash flooding are the four primary ways floods occur [1]. No matter how it occurs, flooding can be extremely dangerous to the health of Utah citizens. In terms of climate change, the data regarding how climate change may affect flood frequency is minimal. The EPA reports that the number of heavy rainfall occurrences has increased and these occurrences lead to increased flooding events. Yet, the EPA recognizes that this is not happening in all areas [2]. Whether it is an abundance of snowmelt runoff, a heavy thunderstorm, or dam failure, floods can negatively affect public health in a number of ways. One of the primary concerns is contaminated drinking water. Floods can move massive amounts of debris and compromise sewage systems, which can contaminate the drinking water supply. Waterborne diseases such as giardia are transmitted through the consumption of contaminated water (polluted with fecal matter) and can cause debility and even death. Stagnant flood waters can become a breeding ground for vector-borne diseases, like West Nile virus, that could impact individuals who are displaced by a flood. Severe floods can knock over power lines and damage homes, allowing the release of hazardous chemicals into the community [3]. Other health concerns include drowning and injuries directly related to flooding.[[br]] [[br]] ---- 1. Barjenbruch, K., McInerney, B., Watanabe, J., & Siebeneck, L. (2008). Utah natural hazard handbook: Floods/flash floods. Retrieved January 12, 2017 from Be Ready Utah: [https://www.utah.gov/beready/documents/HazardsHandbookDraft8.pdf][[br]] 2. Environmental Protection Agency (2016). Climate change - Science, temperature changes. Retrieved December 21, 2016 from the United States Environmental Protection Agency: [https://www.epa.gov/climate-change-science/understanding-link-between-climate-change-and-extreme-weather][[br]] 3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012). Emergency preparedness and response: Floods. Retrieved December 21, 2016 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: [https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/after.html][[br]][[br]]
Flood TypeYearNumber of Floods
Record Count: 52
Flash Flood199610
Flash Flood199721
Flash Flood199819
Flash Flood19999
Flash Flood200011
Flash Flood200122
Flash Flood200218
Flash Flood200331
Flash Flood200431
Flash Flood200528
Flash Flood200634
Flash Flood200737
Flash Flood200830
Flash Flood200913
Flash Flood201066
Flash Flood201145
Flash Flood201259
Flash Flood2013117
Flash Flood201473
Flash Flood201553
Flash Flood201624
Flash Flood201747
Flash Flood201854
Flash Flood201916
Flash Flood202011
Flash Flood202196
Flood19961
Flood199713
Flood19989
Flood19990
Flood20002
Flood20016
Flood20025
Flood20030
Flood20040
Flood200519
Flood20063
Flood20075
Flood20080
Flood20090
Flood20109
Flood201137
Flood20124
Flood20136
Flood20142
Flood20150
Flood20162
Flood20179
Flood20180
Flood20191
Flood20200
Flood202115

Data 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][[br]] [[br]] ---- 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 Information

References and Community Resources

Citations: 1. Barjenbruch, K., McInerney, B., Watanabe, J., & Siebeneck, L. (2008). Utah natural hazard handbook: Floods/flash floods. Retrieved January 12, 2017 from Be Ready Utah: [https://www.utah.gov/beready/documents/HazardsHandbookDraft8.pdf] 2. Environmental Protection Agency (2016). Climate change - Science, temperature changes. Retrieved April 19, 2018 from the United States Environmental Protection Agency: [https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-river-flooding] 3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012). Emergency preparedness and response: Floods. Retrieved December 21, 2016 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: [https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/after.html] 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/]

More Resources and Links

Evidence-based community health improvement ideas and interventions may be found at the following sites:

Additional indicator data by state and county may be found on these Websites:

Medical literature can be queried at the PubMed website.

Page Content Updated On 05/20/2022, Published on 07/07/2022
The information provided above is from the Utah Department of Health's Center for Health Data IBIS-PH web site (http://epht.health.utah.gov). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Thu, 28 March 2024 15:07:05 from Utah Department of Health, Center for Health Data, Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health Web site: http://epht.health.utah.gov ".

Content updated: Thu, 7 Jul 2022 08:32:01 MDT