Floods are bad. Whether you are rich or poor, sudden floods can cause widespread damage to life and property. The impacts of Hurricane Katrina and Harvey still linger in the mind.

During severe floods, families may lose property they’ve held for generations. In the worst cases they may lose family members. Farmers lose livestock, and businesses suffer long-lasting damage. Though insurance covers some losses, the damage has a lasting impact on livelihoods.

But in parts of the world prone to long periods of drought, heavy rainfall and floods can be the just what’s needed.

In tropical countries, freshwater is crucial for agricultural. In regions where the entire year’s agricultural production is dependent on a few weeks or months of rainfall, the quantity of rainfall received is important.

Moreover, most of these agri-based landscapes tend to have natural drainage absent in urban areas. So, besides increasing levels in reservoirs and groundwater, these rains also pose less danger to life and property.

One such place is my native village in India. Almost all households in the village depend on agriculture. Coconut is the prominent product. The unusually long Monsoon rainfall season this year affected my village. Heavy rain lashed through the village. Coconut farms were flooded. Excess water made its own pathways towards natural and man-made canals, raising canal water levels.

For the people in the village, this meant an increase in water availability and productivity, leading to an eventual increase in their income. Videos of flooding on social media received positive feedback and happy comments.

My village is not the only place where farmers are happy with abundant rainfall. Millions in India and elsewhere bear the short inconvenience of floods and rejoice at the prospect of increased water for their agricultural needs.

Even in urban areas, excess water can be beneficial if flood risks are minimized through proper rainwater drainage facilities.

Usually, the water for urban consumers comes from rivers or reservoirs close by. But many cities now use various methods of rainwater harvesting to change floods into blessings. Most flooding can be avoided with careful planning and proper drainage. Even villagers can build drainage pathways to take excess water into their farmlands.

People must not confuse flooding with climate change. Hard data from around the world show no increase in the frequency or severity of flooding since human-induced global warming began around 60 years ago. Rain is good, and we must rejoice for the availability of water. Flood is not, but we can avoid it with ingenuity.

Photo by Atilla Bingöl on Unsplash.