Based on the research status, the dynamic processes of drift wood recruitment, transport-accumulation, accumulation-blockage and breakage were reviewed in detail, and the disaster effects of drift wood in flash flood and debris flow were summarized from four aspects of direct impact damage, clogging-submergence, clogging-scouring, and breakage-scouring. In order to deal with the disaster effect of drift wood, the disaster prevention and mitigation measures combined with engineering measures and management measures were put forward. On this basis, it is pointed out that the future research topics on drift wood disaster include quantitative evaluation of drift wood recruitment, dynamic process of drift wood transport-accumulation-clogging-breakage, disaster-causing effect and risk assessment of drift wood, disaster control and mitigation measures of drift wood.