6 Easy Facts About Floods

Natural disasters, such as floods, are those occurrences over which man has no control. Yet, the temptation to live on the water's edge outweighs the risks for people enchanted by oceans, lakes and rivers. While flooding can occur anywhere at any time, some geographical locations are more prone to flooding. Knowing this, their inhabitants can prepare in advance to protect themselves from the danger to life, health and safety. Even if you do not live in a flood zone, you may encounter flash floods while away from home. Increase your chances for survival by learning all you can about this force of nature.

Property Damage

• Floods cause more than 90 percent of property damage in the United States and remain the most frequently occurring natural disasters worldwide, according to the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.

Fatalities

• Flash floods kill more people than lightning, tornadoes and hurricanes. Many of the deaths occur when people drive through flooded roads without knowing the depth of the water or if the ground beneath the water is still intact, according to the National Weather Service, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Water's Power

• Water weighs 62.4 pounds per cubic foot and displaces 1,500 pounds per foot. Two feet of rushing water can lift and float a 3,000-pound object and has the power to carry away cars, sport utility vehicles and and pickup trucks.

Floods from Land and Sea

• Flooding begins on land as the result of heavy rains. Flooding from the sea occurs when storm surges brought about by hurricanes and intense cyclones as well as tsunamis generated by earthquakes, volcanic eruption and undersea landslides trigger an abnormal rise in sea level.

Timing of Flooding

• In many areas, seasonal flooding occurs due to heavy rainfall in the spring and melting ice in the winter.

  Flash floods, generated by a rapid rate of rainfall over an extended period, occur at any time, day or night, often within a few minutes, and can reach heights in excess of 30 feet.

Flood Assistance

• Congress passed the National Flood Insurance Program in 1968 to assist property owners and renters with the financial burden of flood damage. This insurance is available to all communities meeting the requirements to reduce flood risk established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. To obtain information about the NFIP program in your area, call the National Flood Insurance Center at 1-800-427-2419. Additional sources of information include your insurance agent and your community's public works department.