Legal Definitions - floodwater

Floodwater refers to water that has overflowed its natural or artificial boundaries, spreading over land that is typically dry. This can occur from various sources, including heavy rainfall, melting snow, storm surges from oceans, or failures in water containment infrastructure.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept of floodwater:

• Example 1: After several days of torrential rain, a major river swells dramatically, causing its banks to overflow. The excess water inundates nearby farmlands and a section of a state highway that runs parallel to the river.

  Explanation: In this scenario, the water that has left the river's normal channel and covered the fields and highway is considered floodwater. It has moved beyond its usual confines to cover land that is ordinarily dry.

• Example 2: A powerful coastal storm generates a significant storm surge, pushing ocean water far inland. This surge submerges beachfront properties, streets, and even extends several blocks into a coastal town, filling basements and ground floors of buildings.

  Explanation: The seawater that has been driven by the storm beyond the normal shoreline and into the urban area is floodwater. It represents water that has encroached upon land typically above sea level.

• Example 3: An old, poorly maintained municipal water pipe bursts beneath a city street. The escaping water quickly rises, covering the street, flowing into adjacent parking lots, and seeping into the lower levels of nearby commercial buildings.

  Explanation: Here, the water from the broken pipe that has spread across the street and into the surrounding properties is floodwater. It is water that has escaped its intended containment system and is covering areas not designed to hold it.