Floodwater and Homes

In the picture

1. 1Wooden stilt: lifts the house floor above the floodwater
2. 2Dry porch: a living space kept above the water
3. 3Floodwater at a doorstep: the low house is exposed to the flood
4. 4Floodplain: land beside the river covered by high water
5. 5Tied rowboat: transport kept ready in high water

Examples

• A family moves its car to higher ground before a storm surge.
• A city clears storm drains so heavy rain does not flood streets.

Quiz: Floodwater and Homes (Age 15)

1. 1

   According to the card, when does a flood become a disaster?

   • When floodwater reaches people or things they depend on
   • When a river spreads across its floodplain
   • When homes are built on tall stilts
2. 2

   Why can the same flood cause less damage to a prepared community?

   • Because tied rowboats lower the river level
   • Because raised floors keep water away from living spaces
   • Because the floodplain stops being covered by water
3. 3

   How do wooden stilts help a home during a flood?

   • They stop the river from spreading across the floodplain
   • They make floodwater flow away from the doorstep
   • They lift the house floor above the floodwater

The answers, each with its explanation, are in the app. This lesson has left the free week, so its quiz is part of the subscription.