Floods start from melting snow on top of mountains, or just from a monsoon. Floods can be one of the most destructive disasters on earth. It can and will destroy everything in its path.
Some of the worst storms ever were in 1995 on the west coast. The first was in California. Record-breaking rainfall and rampaging rivers quickly turned into floating towns. Neighborhoods and towns turned into lakes and islands, homes into moated ruins. Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes and even their towns and communites. Children were separated from their parents, floating, drowning or swimming to safety. Dozens died, hundreds were injured. Hundreds to thousands of people had to be plucked off their roofs by daring rescuers in helicopters, on jet skies, or boats. Linda Roen and her four-year old son were found clinging to a piece of wood floating down the river. She said,"I'd walk if I could," obviously frustrated by the event,"Everyone I know and everyone I care about is in the valley."
Recently there have been some bad rains in the Chicago area. In 1996 there was a record rainfall. Many areas were damaged by the torrential rains.
