Before A Flood

Floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States, however not all floods are
alike. Some floods develop slowly, while others such as flash floods, can develop in just a few minutes and without visible signs of rain. Additionally, floods can be local, impacting a neighborhood or community, or very large, affecting entire river basins and multiple states. Flash floods can occur within a few minutes or hours of e cessive rainfall, a dam or levee failure, or a sudden release of water held by an ice jam. Flash floods often have a dangerous wall of roaring water carrying rocks, mud and other debris. !verland flooding, the most common type of flooding event typically occurs when waterways such as rivers or streams overflow their banks as a result of rainwater or a possible levee breach and cause flooding in surrounding areas. "t can also occur when rainfall or snowmelt e ceeds the capacity of underground pipes, or the capacity of streets and drains designed to carry flood water away from urban areas. #e aware of flood hazards no matter where you live or work, but especially if you are in low$lying areas, near water, behind a levee or downstream from a dam. %ven very small streams, gullies, creeks, culverts, dry streambeds or low$lying ground that appear harmless in dry weather can flood. Before a Flood &hat would you do if your property were flooded' Are you prepared' %ven if you feel you live in a community with a low risk of flooding, remember that anywhere it rains, it can flood. (ust because you haven)t e perienced a flood in the past, doesn)t mean you won)t in the future. Flood risk isn)t just based on history* it)s also based on a number of factors including rainfall , topography, flood$control measures, river$flow and tidal$surge data, and changes due to new construction and development. Flood$hazard maps have been created to show the flood risk for your community, which helps determine the type of flood insurance coverage you will need since standard homeowners insurance doesn)t cover flooding. +he lower the degree of risk, the lower the flood insurance premium. "n addition to having flood insurance, knowing following flood hazard terms will help you recognize and prepare for a flood. +o prepare for a flood, you should,

#uild an emergency kit and make a family communications plan. Avoid building in a floodplain unless you elevate and reinforce your home. %levate the furnace, water heater and electric panel in your home if you live in an area that has a high flood risk. -onsider installing .check valves. to prevent flood water from backing up into the drains of your home. "f feasible, construct barriers to stop floodwater from entering the building and seal walls in basements with waterproofing compounds.
CAUSES Tropical Storms and Hurricanes $ /urricanes pack a triple punch, high winds, soaking rain, and flying debris. +hey can cause storm surges to coastal areas, as well as create heavy rainfall which in turn causes flooding hundreds of miles inland. &hile all coastal areas are at risk, certain cities are particularly vulnerable and could have losses similar to or even greater than those caused by the 0112 hurricane, 3atrina, in 4ew !rleans and 5ississippi. &hen hurricanes weaken into tropical storms, they generate rainfall and flooding that can be especially damaging since the rain collects in one place. "n 0116, +ropical Storm Allison produced more than 71 inches of rainfall in /ouston in just a few days, flooding over 81,111 houses and destroying 0,899 homes. Spring Thaw $ :uring the spring, frozen land prevents melting snow or rainfall from seeping into the ground. %ach cubic foot of compacted snow contains gallons of water and once the snow melts, it can result in the overflow of streams, rivers, and lakes. Add spring storms to that and the result is often serious spring flooding. Heavy Rains $ Several areas of the country are at heightened risk for flooding due to heavy rains. +he 4orthwest is at high risk due to ;a 4i<a conditions, which include snowmelts and heavy rains. And the 4ortheast is at high risk due to heavy rains produced from 4or)easters. +his e cessive amount of rainfall can happen throughout the year, putting your property at risk. est Coast Threats $ Although floods can occur throughout the year, the &est -oast rainy season usually lasts from 4ovember to April. +his window increases the chance of heavy flooding and flash flood risks. &ildfires have dramatically changed the landscape and ground conditions on the &est -oast, causing fire$scorched land to develop in to mudflows under heavy rain. % perts believe it will take years for the vegetation to be fully restored, which in turn will help stabilize these areas. "n addition to the heavy rains and wildfires, the &est -oast has thousands of miles of levees, which were constructed to help protect homes and land in case of a flood. /owever, levees are not fail$proof and can, weaken, or overtop when waters rise, often causing catastrophic results. !evees " #ams $ ;evees are designed to protect hold back a certain level of water. /owever, levees can and do fail* and when they fail, they can fail catastrophically. &eakening of levees over time, or as a result of weather events e ceeding the levee=s level of support, can cause the levee to be overtopped or breached, thus increasing the chance for flooding. /omeowners and renters insurance policies usually do not cover flood loss, therefore F%5A strongly encourages those who live and work behind levees to consider flood insurance as a dependable financial security from a flood event Flash Floods $ Flash floods are the >6 weather$related killer in the U.S. since they can roll boulders, tear out trees, and destroy buildings and bridges. A flash flood is a rapid flooding of low$lying areas in less than si hours, which is caused by intense rainfall from a thunderstorm or several thunderstorms. Flash floods can also occur from the collapse of a man$made structure or ice dam. $ew #evelopment $ -onstruction and development can change the natural drainage and create brand new flood risks. +hat)s because new buildings, parking lots, and roads mean less land to absorb e cess precipitation from heavy rains, hurricanes, and tropical storms.
Familiari%e yourself with these terms to help identify a flood ha%ard& Flood atch $ Flooding is possible. +une in to 4!AA &eather ?adio, commercial radio or television for information. Flash Flood atch $ Flash flooding is possible. #e prepared to move to higher ground* listen to 4!AA &eather ?adio, commercial radio or television for information. Flood arning $ Flooding is occurring or will occur soon* if advised to evacuate, do so immediately. arning $ A flash flood is occurring* seek higher ground immediately.
Flash Flood
The following are important points to remem'er when driving in flood conditions&
Si inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible stalling. A foot of water will float many vehicles +wo feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles @SUA=sB and pick$ups. :o not attempt to drive through a flooded road. +he depth of water is not always obvious. +he road bed may be washed out under the water, and you could be stranded or trapped. :o not drive around a barricade. #arricades are there for your protection. +urn around and go the other way. :o not try to take short cuts. +hey may be blocked. Stick to designated evacuation routes. #e especially cautious driving at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers.

Before A Flood

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Floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States, however not all floods are

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