Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » El Reno, Oklahoma » Oklahoma and Central Plains Agricultural Research Center » Agroclimate and Hydraulics Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #433831
Research Project: Development of a Monitoring Network, Engineering Tools, and Guidelines for the Design, Analysis, and Rehabilitation of Embankment Dams, Hydraulic Structures, and Channels

Location: Agroclimate and Hydraulics Research Unit

Title: Human impacts of flooding in the United States

Author
item JONES, MELISSA - University Of Missouri
item ROTMAN, ROBIN - University Of Missouri
item STANIS, SONJA WILHEML - University Of Missouri
item Hunt, Sherry

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/10/2026
Publication Date: 4/20/2026
Citation: Jones, M., Rotman, R., Stanis, S., Hunt, S. 2026. Human impacts of flooding in the United States. Meeting Abstract. University of Missouri, Show Me Research Week, Columbia, MO, April 20-24, 2026.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Flooding and flood losses are expected to become more common and more frequent in the coming years due to changes in weather patterns, compounded by aging infrastructure and population shifts. This poster presents a comprehensive review of case-studies documenting human impacts from flood experience, with a focus on showcasing the United States’ representation. Impacts to people via flooding are categorized as physical health (e.g., bodily injury and contaminant exposure), mental/emotional health (e.g., PTSD, depression, anxiety, and chronic stress of frequent flooding, social health (e.g., deteriorating community cohesion), economic health (e.g., loss of income or declining property value), and physical environment health (e.g., displacement/evacuation and inability to use private/public transportation). Additionally, the study collected qualitative data about each of the categorized impacts identified in relevant studies. In total, 68 studies met the criteria, of which the top three prevalent countries of the sample are India (9), the United Kingdom (6), and the United States (5). Currently, impacts on the physical environment are most frequently documented and impacts on mental/emotional health are the least documented. The poster offers a visual of the study’s qualitative data gathered and concludes by identifying individual and community factors that may increase resilience to flooding and offers recommendations on implementation in the United States.