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FLOOD FACTS

1. Anywhere it can rain, it can flood. If you live on a hill or in an area that has never been flooded, you may still be at some level of risk.

2. Flooding can be caused by heavy rains, melting snow, inadequate drainage systems, failed flood control structures such as levees and dams, as well as tropical storms and hurricanes.

3. Everyone lives in a flood zone. Flood zones indicate areas of low, moderate and high risk. In low- and moderate-risk zones flooding can still occur.

4. The fact that a flood hasn't occurred in recent years does not mean that one hasn't happened in the past or that one will not happen in the future

5. Flood history is only one element used in determining flood risk

6. Determinations are based on evaluating your community's rainfall and river-flow data, topography, tidal surge, flood control measures, and building development (existing and planned).

7. Using these flood hazard maps, your insurance agent can help you determine your risk level and provide you with the flood insurance coverage that is right for you.

8. People think of hurricanes as windstorms, but they also cause major flooding, sometimes hundreds of miles inland. Tropical storms, because they are slow-moving, can bring intense, lasting rains that over-saturate the ground and cause water buildup in low-lying areas.

9. Until the spring thaw, the hard, frozen earth prevents melting snow or rainfall from seeping into the ground. The resulting run-off can overfill streams, rivers and lakes. Add spring storms, and you have a recipe for serious seasonal floods.

10. The 1993 floods caused such extensive damages that 563 counties were declared disaster areas, including the entire state of Iowa. The deluge swept across the Midwest, creating an ocean of floodwaters that inundated nine states and submerged entire communities. Nearly 50 people were killed and 55,000 homes were damaged or destroyed in what became one of the most widespread natural disasters in U.S. history.

11. Northwest Flooding
Western states are at a high risk for flooding due to La Niña conditions, snow melt, heavy rains and recent wildfires. Weather has been wetter than normal in northern California, Idaho, western Montana, northern Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

12. Northeast Flooding
Eastern states can be hit by coastal storms called Nor'easters. Coastal areas are hit by heavy rains and heavy, pounding waves. A December 1992 Nor'easter caused $346 million in flood-related damages.

13. There's a 30-day wait before a flood insurance policy takes effect, so don't wait to purchase flood insurance.

14. Mudflows
A string of large wildfires have dramatically altered the landscape and ground conditions in several Western states. The charred ground in burned areas cannot absorb water easily, making residents especially vulnerable to flooding. Mudflows and mudslides occur when fire-scorched earth saturates with rain and gushes down hills. Properties directly affected by fire, as well as those located below or downstream of the fire areas, are at the most risk, including properties that were previously not considered at high risk for flooding. Experts say that it may take years for the vegetation to return, and without this vegetation and ground cover, rainfall can cause the soil on the steep slopes to become powerful, devastating mudflows.

15. Levees and Flooding
The West Coast has thousands of miles of levees. These embankments along waterways, usually made of earth, are designed to protect lives and properties in the event of a flood. However, no levee provides full protection from flooding. Levees can and do decay over time, and maintenance can become a serious challenge. Levees can be overtopped and even fail in large flood events, with catastrophic results. The flood damage after a levee failure can be more significant than if the levee was not there. For these reasons, people living near levees need to understand the flood risks they face. Local officials can provide more information about nearby levees and the related flood risk your property faces.

16. Hurricanes:
People think of hurricanes as windstorms, but they also cause major flooding, sometimes hundreds of miles inland. Tropical storms, because they are slow-moving, can bring intense, lasting rains that over-saturate the ground and cause water buildup in low-lying areas.

17. Houston
Houston is a low-lying city that is vulnerable because hurricanes and tropical storms gain strength in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Even though Houston is about 50 miles from the shore, Galveston Bay could act as a channel for a storm surge from the Gulf. Even a slow-moving storm can cause significant flooding. Tropical Storm Allison dumped up to 30 inches of rain in June 2001, flooding some 73,000 residences.

18. Tampa
Shallow ocean beds off the coast of Florida could act as a ramp for a surge of water when a hurricane approaches. Tampa Bay is shaped like a funnel into the city's downtown, potentially opening the door to billions of dollars in damage.

19. Miami
Miami's location sets it in the middle of a hurricane highway. Shallow waters off the coast of Florida make the city vulnerable to a high storm surge that could catastrophically affect the developed beachfront. Hurricane Andrew struck the Miami/Dade County area in 1992, causing $20 billion of damages.


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19 Flood Facts FLOOD FACTS 1. Anywhere it can rain, it can flood. If you live on a hill or in an area that has never been flooded, you may still be at some level of risk. 2. Flooding can be caused by heavy rains, melting snow, inadequate drainage systems, failed flood control structures such as levees and dams, as well as tropical storms and hurricanes. 3. Everyone lives in a flood zone. Flood zones indicate areas of low, moderate and high risk. In low- and moderate-risk zones flooding can still occur. 4. The fact that a flood hasn't occurred in recent years does not mean that one hasn't happened in the past or that one will not happen in the future 5. Flood history is only one element used in determining flood risk 6. Determinations are based on evaluating your community's rainfall and river-flow data, topography, tidal surge, flood control measures, and building development (existing and planned). 7. Using these flood hazard maps, your insurance agent can help you determine your risk level and provide you with the flood insurance coverage that is right for you. 8. People think of hurricanes as windstorms, but they also cause major flooding, sometimes hundreds of miles inland. Tropical storms, because they are slow-moving, can bring intense, lasting rains that over-saturate the ground and cause water buildup in low-lying areas. 9. Until the spring thaw, the hard, frozen earth prevents melting snow or rainfall from seeping into the ground. The resulting run-off can overfill streams, rivers and lakes. Add spring storms, and you have a recipe for serious seasonal floods. 10. The 1993 floods caused such extensive damages that 563 counties were declared disaster areas, including the entire state of Iowa. The deluge swept across the Midwest, creating an ocean of floodwaters that inundated nine states and submerged entire communities. Nearly 50 people were killed and 55,000 homes were damaged or destroyed in what became one of the most widespread natural disasters in U.S. history. 11. Northwest Flooding Western states are at a high risk for flooding due to La Niña conditions, snow melt, heavy rains and recent wildfires. Weather has been wetter than normal in northern California, Idaho, western Montana, northern Nevada, Oregon and Washington. 12. Northeast Flooding Eastern states can be hit by coastal storms called Nor'easters. Coastal areas are hit by heavy rains and heavy, pounding waves. A December 1992 Nor'easter caused $346 million in flood-related damages. 13. There's a 30-day wait before a flood insurance policy takes effect, so don't wait to purchase flood insurance. 14. Mudflows A string of large wildfires have dramatically altered the landscape and ground conditions in several Western states. The charred ground in burned areas cannot absorb water easily, making residents especially vulnerable to flooding. Mudflows and mudslides occur when fire-scorched earth saturates with rain and gushes down hills. Properties directly affected by fire, as well as those located below or downstream of the fire areas, are at the most risk, including properties that were previously not considered at high risk for flooding. Experts say that it may take years for the vegetation to return, and without this vegetation and ground cover, rainfall can cause the soil on the steep slopes to become powerful, devastating mudflows. 15. Levees and Flooding The West Coast has thousands of miles of levees. These embankments along waterways, usually made of earth, are designed to protect lives and properties in the event of a flood. However, no levee provides full protection from flooding. Levees can and do decay over time, and maintenance can become a serious challenge. Levees can be overtopped and even fail in large flood events, with catastrophic results. The flood damage after a levee failure can be more significant than if the levee was not there. For these reasons, people living near levees need to understand the flood risks they face. Local officials can provide more information about nearby levees and the related flood risk your property faces. 16. Hurricanes: People think of hurricanes as windstorms, but they also cause major flooding, sometimes hundreds of miles inland. Tropical storms, because they are slow-moving, can bring intense, lasting rains that over-saturate the ground and cause water buildup in low-lying areas. 17. Houston Houston is a low-lying city that is vulnerable because hurricanes and tropical storms gain strength in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Even though Houston is about 50 miles from the shore, Galveston Bay could act as a channel for a storm surge from the Gulf. Even a slow-moving storm can cause significant flooding. Tropical Storm Allison dumped up to 30 inches of rain in June 2001, flooding some 73,000 residences. 18. Tampa Shallow ocean beds off the coast of Florida could act as a ramp for a surge of water when a hurricane approaches. Tampa Bay is shaped like a funnel into the city's downtown, potentially opening the door to billions of dollars in damage. 19. Miami Miami's location sets it in the middle of a hurricane highway. Shallow waters off the coast of Florida make the city vulnerable to a high storm surge that could catastrophically affect the developed beachfront. Hurricane Andrew struck the Miami/Dade County area in 1992, causing $20 billion of damages.