Floods

FEMA Updated: Sep 1st 2005

What Is A Flood?
Floods are the most common and widespread of all natural disasters--except fire Most
communities in the United States ha!e experienced some "ind of floodin#$ after sprin# rains$
hea!% thunderstorms$ or winter snow thaws
A flood$ as defined &% the 'ational Flood (nsurance )ro#ram is:
*A #eneral and temporar% condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of
normall% dr% land area or of two or more properties +at least one of which is %our propert%, from:
-!erflow of inland or tidal waters$
Unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from an% source$ or
A mudflow
./he0 collapse or su&sidence of land alon# the shore of a la"e or similar &od% of water as a result
of erosion or underminin# caused &% wa!es or currents of water exceedin# anticipated c%clical
le!els that result in a flood*
Floods can &e slow$ or fast risin# &ut #enerall% de!elop o!er a period of da%s Miti#ation
includes an% acti!ities that pre!ent an emer#enc%$ reduce the chance of an emer#enc% happenin#$
or lessen the dama#in# effects of una!oida&le emer#encies (n!estin# in miti#ation steps now$
such as$ en#a#in# in floodplain mana#ement acti!ities$ constructin# &arriers$ such as le!ees$ and
purchasin# flood insurance will help reduce the amount of structural dama#e to %our home and
financial loss from &uildin# and crop dama#e should a flood or flash flood occur
What Should I Do Before A Flood?
)urchase Flood insurance /he FloodSmart1o! we&site has information on how %ou can secure
a flood polic% /he law can re2uire it 3ut the laws of nature demand it Floodin# can happen
an%time$ an%where /here are man% different flood 4ones throu#hout the United States with
different le!els of ris" E!er%one li!es in a flood 4one5
6nowin# and understandin# %our flood 4one helps %ou understand %our ris" of financial loss (t7s
also important information to consider when purchasin# flood insurance 8iew the le!el of flood
ris" to %our propert% and communit% at the FEMA Map Store where !iewin# flood ris"
identification maps is free +'ote: Use (nternet Explorer -nl%5,
3esides insurin# %our propert%$ there are other thin#s %ou can do &efore a flood to minimi4e
potential loss to %our home and ensure %our famil%7s safet%
9a!e disaster supplies on hand:
o Flashli#hts and extra &atteries
o )orta&le$ &atter%-operated radio and extra &atteries tuned to a local station$ and
follow emer#enc% instructions
o First aid "it and manual
o Emer#enc% food and &ottled water
o 'on-electric can opener
o Essential medicines
o :ash and credit cards
o Sturd% shoes
(f %ou li!e in a fre2uentl% flooded area$ ta"e pre!entati!e measures and stoc"pile
emer#enc% &uildin# materials:
o )l%wood$ plastic sheetin#$ lum&er$ nails$ hammer and saw$ pr% &ar$ sho!els$ and
sand&a#s
o 9a!e chec" !al!es installed in &uildin# sewer traps to pre!ent flood waters from
&ac"in# up in sewer drains
o As a last resort$ use lar#e cor"s or stoppers to plu# showers$ tu&s$ or &asins
/a"e photos or !ideos of all of %our important possessions (f %our home is dama#ed in a
flood$ these documents will help %ou file a full flood insurance claim
Store important documents and irreplacea&le personal o&;ects +such as photo#raphs,
where the% won7t #et dama#ed (f ma;or floodin# is expected$ consider puttin# them in a
stora#e facilit%
)ost emer#enc% telephone num&ers &% the phone /each children to dial <11
)lan and practice a flood e!acuation route with %our famil%
o =earn flood-warnin# si#ns and %our communit%7s alert si#nals
o :ontact %our local emer#enc% mana#ement office or local American >ed :ross
chapter for a cop% of the communit% flood e!acuation plan
o /his plan should include information on the safest routes to shelters (ndi!iduals
li!in# in flash flood areas should ha!e se!eral alternati!e routes >e2uest
information on preparin# for floods and flash floods
o ?e!elop an emer#enc% communication plan
o (n case famil% mem&ers are separated from one another durin# floods or
flashfloods +a real possi&ilit% durin# the da% when adults are at wor" and children
are at school,$ ha!e a plan for #ettin# &ac" to#ether
o As" an out-of-state relati!e or friend to ser!e as the *famil% contact* After a
disaster$ it7s often easier to call lon# distance Ma"e sure e!er%one in the famil%
"nows the name$ address$ and phone num&er of the contact person
o Ma"e sure that all famil% mem&ers "now how to respond after a flood or flash
flood /each all famil% mem&ers how and when to turn off #as$ electricit%$ and
water
o /each children how and when to call <-1-1$ police$ fire department$ and which
radio station to tune to for emer#enc% information
o 3e prepared to e!acuate
As" an out-of-state relati!e or friend to &e the *famil% contact* in case %our famil% is
separated durin# a flood
Ma"e sure e!er%one in %our famil% "nows the name$ address$ and phone num&er of this
contact person
3u% and install sump pumps with &ac"-up power
9a!e a licensed electrician raise electric components +switches$ soc"ets$ circuit &rea"ers
and wirin#, at least 12* a&o!e %our home7s pro;ected flood ele!ation
For drains$ toilets$ and other sewer connections$ install &ac"flow !al!es or plu#s to
pre!ent floodwaters from enterin#
Anchor fuel tan"s An unanchored tan" in %our &asement can &e torn free &% flood
waters$ and the &ro"en suppl% line can contaminate %our &asement An unanchored tan"
outside can &e swept downstream$ where it can dama#e other houses
(f %our washer and dr%er are in the &asement$ ele!ate them on masonr% or pressure-
treated lum&er at least 12* a&o!e the pro;ected flood ele!ation
)lace the furnace and water heater on masonr% &loc"s or concrete at least 12* a&o!e the
pro;ected flood ele!ation
advertisement
3u% Flood (nsurance5
-ne of the most important thin#s that %ou can do to protect %our home and famil% &efore
a flood is to purchase a flood insurance polic%
@ou can o&tain one throu#h %our insurance compan% or a#ent Flood insurance is
#uaranteed throu#h the 'ational Flood (nsurance )ro#ram +'F(),$ administered &% the
Federal Emer#enc% Mana#ement A#enc% @our homeowner7s insurance does not co!er
flood dama#e
?on7t wait until a flood is comin# to purchase %our polic% (t normall% ta"es A0 da%s after
purchase for a flood insurance polic% to #o into effect
For more information a&out the 'F() and flood insurance$ read the information on the
FloodSmart#o! we& site$ contact %our insurance compan% or a#ent$ or call the 'F() at 1-
BBB-F=--?2< or /??C 1-B00-D2E-55<A
What Should I Do During a Flood?
'ow$ the floodwaters are risin#$ and there7s nothin# %ou can do to stop them 3ut there are thin#s
%ou can do to ma"e sure %our famil% sta%s safe until the water le!els drop a#ain
Fill &athtu&s$ sin"s$ and ;u#s with clean water in case water &ecomes contaminated
Saniti4e the sin"s and tu&s first &% usin# &leach >inse$ then fill with clean water
=isten to a &atter%-operated radio for the latest storm information
(f local authorities instruct %ou to do so$ turn off all utilities at the main power switch and
close the main #as !al!e
(f told to e!acuate %our home$ do so immediatel%
(f the waters start to rise inside %our house &efore %ou ha!e e!acuated$ retreat to the
second floor$ the attic$ and if necessar%$ the roof
Floodwaters ma% carr% raw sewa#e$ chemical waste and other disease-spreadin#
su&stances (f %ou7!e come in contact with floodwaters$ wash %our hands with soap and
disinfected water
A!oid wal"in# throu#h floodwaters As little as six inches of mo!in# water can "noc"
%ou off %our feet
?on7t dri!e throu#h a flooded area (f %ou come upon a flooded road$ turn around and #o
another wa% A car can &e carried awa% &% ;ust 2 feet of flood water
Electric current passes easil% throu#h water$ so sta% awa% from downed power lines and
electrical wires
=oo" out for animals -- especiall% sna"es Animals lose their homes in floods$ too
What Should I Do After A Flood?
@our communit% has &een flooded$ and %our propert% has suffered flood dama#e Sta% calm and
sta% safe in the da%s ahead &% followin# these instructions
F(>S/ S/E): (f %our home has suffered dama#e$ call the a#ent who handles %our flood
insurance to file a claim (f %ou are una&le to sta% in %our home$ ma"e sure to sa% where
%ou can &e reached
/o ma"e filin# %our claim easier$ ta"e photos of an% water in the house and sa!e dama#ed
personal propert% (f necessar%$ place these items outside the home An insurance ad;uster
will need to see what7s &een dama#ed in order to process %our claim
:hec" for structural dama#e &efore re-enterin# %our home ?on7t #o in if there is a
chance of the &uildin# collapsin#
Upon re-enterin# %our propert%$ do not use matches$ ci#arette li#hters or other open
flames since #as ma% &e trapped inside (f %ou smell #as or hear hissin#$ open a window$
lea!e 2uic"l%$ and call the #as compan% from a nei#h&or7s home
6eep power off until an electrician has inspected %our s%stem for safet%
:hec" for sewa#e and water line dama#e (f %ou suspect dama#e$ a!oid usin# the toilets
and the tap and call a plum&er
/hrow awa% an% food -- includin# canned #oods -- that has come in contact with
floodwaters
Until local authorities declare %our water suppl% to &e safe$ &oil water for drin"in# and
food preparation
Ma"e sure to follow local &uildin# codes and ordinances when re&uildin# Use flood-
resistant materials and techni2ues to protect %our propert% from future flood dama#e
Sal!a#e water-dama#ed &oo"s$ heirlooms and photo#raphs with restoration tips from the
'F()
Check For Hazards When Returning Home
1oin# &ac" into %our home can &e dan#erous &ecause floodin# can cause structural$ electrical
and other ha4ards )h%sical dan#ers are not necessaril% o!er after the water #oes down 9a4ards
are not alwa%s o&!ious /he% can &e potentiall% life-threatenin# if precautions are not ta"en
)lease &e mindful of the followin# safet% tips when returnin# home after a flood$ hurricane or
se!ere storm:
/urn off the electricit% E!en if the power compan% has turned off electricit% to the area$
ma"e certain %our house7s power suppl% is disconnected
(f %ou suspect a #as lea" or smell #as$ lea!e %our home immediatel% and call the #as
compan% from a nei#h&or7s house
Enter carefull% (f the door stic"s at the top$ it could mean %our ceilin# is read% to fall (f %ou
force the door open$ wait outside the doorwa% in case de&ris falls
:hec" the ceilin# for si#ns of sa##in# Find$ rain$ or deep floodin# ma% wet plaster or
wall&oard (t is !er% hea!% and dan#erous if it falls
Ma"e sure the electricit% is off and hose down the house to remo!e health ha4ards left &ehind
&% floodwater mud Sho!el out as much mud as possi&le >emo!e water 2uic"l% usin# a mop or
s2uee#ee
Filing a Flood Insurance Claim
(f %our communit% has &een flooded$ and %our propert% or home has suffered flood dama#e$
please follow these instructions to file %our flood insurance claim
(mmediatel%:
:all %our a#ent or insurance compan% 9a!e the followin# information with %ou when
%ou place %our call: +1, the name of %our insurance compan% +%our a#ent ma% write
policies for more than one compan%,G +2, %our polic% num&erG and +A, a telephone
num&erHe-mail address where %ou can &e reached
Fhen %ou file %our claim$ as" for an approximate time frame durin# which an ad;ustor
can &e expected to !isit %our home so %ou can plan accordin#l%
-nce @ou 9a!e >eported @our =oss
An ad;ustor will wor" with %ou to calculate the !alue of the dama#e and prepare a repair
estimate
)lease "eep %our a#ent ad!ised if %our contact information chan#es (f %ou are still in a shelter or
cannot &e easil% reached$ please pro!ide the name of a desi#nated relati!e or point-of-contact
who can reach %ou
3efore /he Ad;ustor Arri!es
=ocal officials ma% re2uire the disposal of dama#ed items (f %ou dispose of items$ please
"eep a swatch or other sample of dama#ed item+s, for the ad;ustor
Separate dama#ed items from undama#ed items (f necessar%$ place items outside the
home
/a"e photos /a"e photos of an% water in the house and dama#ed personal propert% @our
ad;ustor will need e!idence of the dama#e and dama#ed items +ie: cut swatches from
carpetin#$ curtains$ chairs, to prepare %our repair estimate
Ma"e a list of dama#ed or lost items and include their a#e and !alue where possi&le (f
possi&le$ ha!e receipts for those items a!aila&le for the ad;ustor
(f %ou ha!e dama#e estimates prepared &% a contractor+s,$ pro!ide them to the ad;ustor
since the% will &e considered in the preparation of %our repair estimate
:ontact %our insurance compan% if an ad;ustor has not &een assi#ned to %ou within
se!eral da%s
Main Content
)hoto#raph &% Iim >ichardson
/here are few places on Earth where people need not &e concerned a&out floodin# An% place
where rain falls is !ulnera&le$ althou#h rain is not the onl% impetus for flood
A flood occurs when water o!erflows or inundates land that7s normall% dr% /his can happen in a
multitude of wa%s Most common is when ri!ers or streams o!erflow their &an"s Excessi!e rain$
a ruptured dam or le!ee$ rapid ice meltin# in the mountains$ or e!en an unfortunatel% placed
&ea!er dam can o!erwhelm a ri!er and send it spreadin# o!er the ad;acent land$ called a
floodplain :oastal floodin# occurs when a lar#e storm or tsunami causes the sea to sur#e inland
Most floods ta"e hours or e!en da%s to de!elop$ #i!in# residents ample time to prepare or
e!acuate -thers #enerate 2uic"l% and with little warnin# /hese flash floods can &e extremel%
dan#erous$ instantl% turnin# a &a&&lin# &roo" into a thunderin# wall of water and sweepin#
e!er%thin# in its path downstream
?isaster experts classif% floods accordin# to their li"elihood of occurrin# in a #i!en time period
A hundred-%ear flood$ for example$ is an extremel% lar#e$ destructi!e e!ent that would
theoreticall% &e expected to happen onl% once e!er% centur% 3ut this is a theoretical num&er (n
realit%$ this classification means there is a one-percent chance that such a flood could happen in
any #i!en %ear -!er recent decades$ possi&l% due to #lo&al climate chan#e$ hundred-%ear floods
ha!e &een occurrin# worldwide with fri#htenin# re#ularit%
Mo!in# water has awesome destructi!e power Fhen a ri!er o!erflows its &an"s or the sea
dri!es inland$ structures poorl% e2uipped to withstand the water7s stren#th are no match 3rid#es$
houses$ trees$ and cars can &e pic"ed up and carried off /he erosi!e force of mo!in# water can
dra# dirt from under a &uildin#7s foundation$ causin# it to crac" and tum&le
(n the United States$ where flood miti#ation and prediction is ad!anced$ floods do a&out JK
&illion worth of dama#e and "ill a&out 1D0 people e!er% %ear A 200E report &% the -r#ani4ation
for Economic :ooperation and ?e!elopment found that coastal floodin# alone does some JA
trillion in dama#e worldwide (n :hina7s @ellow >i!er !alle%$ where some of the world7s worst
floods ha!e occurred$ millions of people ha!e perished in floods durin# the last centur%
Fhen floodwaters recede$ affected areas are often &lan"eted in silt and mud /he water and
landscape can &e contaminated with ha4ardous materials$ such as sharp de&ris$ pesticides$ fuel$
and untreated sewa#e )otentiall% dan#erous mold &looms can 2uic"l% o!erwhelm water-soa"ed
structures >esidents of flooded areas can &e left without power and clean drin"in# water$
leadin# to out&rea"s of deadl% water&orne diseases li"e t%phoid$ hepatitis A$ and cholera
3ut floodin#$ particularl% in ri!er floodplains$ is as natural as rain and has &een occurrin# for
millions of %ears Famousl% fertile floodplains li"e the Mississippi 8alle% in the American
Midwest$ the 'ile >i!er !alle% in E#%pt$ and the /i#ris-Euphrates in the Middle East ha!e
supported a#riculture for millennia &ecause annual floodin# has left millions of tons of nutrient-
rich silt deposits &ehind
Most flood destruction is attri&uta&le to humans7 desire to li!e near pictures2ue coastlines and in
ri!er !alle%s A##ra!atin# the pro&lem is a tendenc% for de!elopers to &ac"fill and &uild on
wetlands that would otherwise act as natural flood &uffers
Man% #o!ernments mandate that residents of flood-prone areas purchase flood insurance and
&uild flood-resistant structures Massi!e efforts to miti#ate and redirect ine!ita&le floods ha!e
resulted in some of the most am&itious en#ineerin# efforts e!er seen$ includin# 'ew -rleans7s
extensi!e le!ee s%stem and massi!e di"es and dams in the 'etherlands And hi#hl% ad!anced
computer modelin# now lets disaster authorities predict with ama4in# accurac% where floods will
occur and how se!ere the%7re li"el% to &e