How Engineers Can Help Prevent Catastrophic Flooding

Severe weather events are some of the largest looming threats to civilization in the next many decades. The power of water is humbling, something that anyone who has ever been through a flood knows well. Floods can wreak havoc on urban communities, destroying homes, but also destroy environments, damaging wetlands and natural habitats. 

However, we aren’t helpless. As a response to the risk posed by catastrophic flooding events, humans have developed a variety of powerful techniques to counteract water, to control it. Despite what the exuberant environmental engineer or civil engineer might suggest, we’re not talking about some mystical water-bending power – rather practical, science-based techniques to manage, predict, and prevent extreme flooding. Let’s examine what these not-so-mystical-but-equally-impressive techniques are, and then explore how engineers and hydraulic modelers can help prevent catastrophic flooding.