In light of the devastating floods in 2010 in Pakistan, Brazil, the United States, and China, this informative book has been newly revised. From the mythological flood stories of ancient cultures to the annual flooding of Earth's mightiest rivers, water can become a raging torrent of destruction. Floods result from heavy rains and high winds that cause an overflow in water sources such as lakes, rivers, and oceans. Discover how monsoons differ from other storms and how people cope with their devastation. Topics include: - how ancient peoples predicted floods and monsoons, and the specialized equipment that meteorologists use to forecast these natural disasters today - practical techniques to stay safe in the event of a flood or monsoon - the ways that cities recover from natural disasters, and the harmful effects of monsoons and floods on our environment - how people adjust to the inevitability of floods in countries such as India and Bangladesh - famous monsoons and floods throughout the world today and in ancient times.