What happens when heavy rainfall hits dry ground?

BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — With several counties in drought status and storms on the way, what happens when a large amount of rain falls onto dry, compact ground?

Most of the water will run off due to it moving so quickly. The hard, dry ground will not be able to absorb it fast enough to prevent the runoff and with the runoff comes other risks.
Keith Richmond, County Executive Director for the Raleigh County Farm Service Agency, said there are several.

“Yeah, you’re gonna have some leeching of the chemicals or the fertilizer whatever might be on there. The biggest threat though is gonna be the flash floods that come up. They’re gonna take out fences and that type, anything along the creek bank could be gone,” said Richmond.

This includes logs, debris piles, and trash.
Richmond says prior to rainfall, consider where you are putting things along the ground.
If it is in a flood path or area with heavy runoff, you should consider moving it for your safety and the safety of others.

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