Two case studies of floods caused by overland flow: what lessons can be learned for better prevention?

Abstract

Floods are generally due to the vicinity of a river. Nevertheless, strong rainfall events and the subsequent surface runoff may submerge parts of land away from any watercourse. The results may reach the same disastrous level, and their prevention constitutes a major concern. However, little knowledge is available today on such floods, so great being the events' diversity and unpredictability. By mean of two case studies, this paper brings out some useful elements for the analysis of such processes, the accounting for them in land settlement, as well as questions which should be addressed by future research programs.