The Difference Between Natural and Man-Made Floods

You might think that all floods are derived from a natural disaster. Depending on where you live, it could be from the ocean, lake, or a rain storm. However, mother nature can’t be blamed for all types of flooding. As society’s impact on nature continues to grow, all possibilities should be considered when determining the cause for flooding.

Examples of Man-Made Flooding and the Likelihood of Occurrence

• Water heater malfunction
• Broken dishwasher, fridge water line, or main supply line of a large house or commercial building
• Leaks from the air conditioner
• Sewer backups
• Overflowing sinks, toilets, or drain pipes
• Burst frozen pipes

As water damage accounts for twenty percent of all insurance claims, many appliances handling water are most likely to be the source of the flooding. On average, about 14,000 people in the United States alone experience some form of water damage every day.

The type of plumbing as well as how long it has been installed in your home or building can determine the likelihood of water damage. In fact, it is estimated that the majority of all floods derived from the inside of the home can be prevented.

If the appliances are not monitored frequently, the chances of flooding are significantly increased. That is why regular maintenance and checks are highly recommended in order to prevent flooding from the inside of the home.

Types of Floods Caused by Nature and Likelihood of Occurrence

• River overflowing from large amounts of rain
• Flash floods from heavy rain
• High tides in coastal areas

As flooding is often the most common type of natural disaster (derived from hurricanes, tidal waves, monsoons, etc.), all states have experienced some form of flooding within the past five years. In addition, homes and buildings near the coast or wet climates are also more prone to natural flooding.

Difference in Flood Damages: Man-Made vs. Natural

Man-Made Flooding

While many floods caused by people do not usually stretch further than the property, the amount of destruction is still eye-opening. According to the United States insurance industry, the average insurance claim from man-made floods is $7,000. However, this is calculated from different sources and degrees of water damage.

The following types of water can be included in any man-made flooding:

Clean water: caused by broken water pipes, sinks, or tubs. Because it does not contain many contaminants, it does less damage to the affected surfaces.

Grey water: this can be derived from washing machines and dishwashers as they can overflow, containing dirt or food particles.

Black water: this water can come from sewage backups or toilets overflowing, therefore, being very costly and to fix. CAUTION: this is the most dangerous to your health.

Natural Flooding

As the type of water in natural flooding can vary depending on location, the cleanup job from this mess can be the costliest. In fact, the average insurance claim derived from natural flooding was calculated to be over $46,000.

Whether you have one or fifty inches of standing water in your basement, the cleanup job can be long and very expensive. This is not to mention the content restoration or replacement of the damaged belongings. But this process could be very dangerous if the water is dirty and may contain contaminants that are harmful to humans.

Call for Help Right Away

Sometimes the extent of the damage is too significant or dangerous to handle by oneself. Whether you are dealing with a man-made or natural flood, the amount of water flooding the home can be overwhelming. However, professional water damage restoration specialists have the equipment and experience for flood cleanup jobs of all sizes. Contact these experts right away for emergency man-made or natural flood restoration services before the damage gets any worse.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.