While flood damage can be eliminated by moving away from rivers and other lakes , people have lived and worked by the water to seek sustenance , and capitalize on the gains of cheap and easy travel and commerce easily , by being near water . While flood damage can be virtually eliminated by moving away from rivers and other bodies of water , since time out of mind , people have lived and worked by the water to seek sustenance and capitalize on the gains of cheap and easy travel and commerce by being near water .