Flood Education

With a combination of soaking rain, flying debris, high winds, and tidal surges, hurricanes and tropical storms can pack a powerful punch. Besides causing extensive damage in coastal areas, hurricanes and tropical storms often bring flooding hundreds of miles inland, placing communities that normally would not be affected by the strongest hurricane winds in great danger. Just a few inches of water from a flood can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage.

Many areas of the country are at heightened risk for flooding due to heavy rains. This excessive amount of rainfall can happen anytime throughout the year, putting your property at risk.

Storms over the Pacific Ocean bring heavy rains to the western United States between the months of November and April. Spring rains in colder climates can lead to flooding when the still-frozen ground cannot absorb the water. And summer months often bring heavy rains to the eastern and southern United States as warm air and moisture from the ocean move inland.

Cresting rivers, backed-up storm drains or saturated ground can cause significant, widespread floods during these times.

In the United States, floods are the most common severe weather emergency. 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 six 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.