Flooding poses tremendous danger to both people and property.
Since 1900, floods have taken
more than 10,000 lives in the
Most people are unaware that:
·
Floods and flash floods happen in all 50
states.
·
Everyone lives in a flood zone.
For more information visit:
http//www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/faq_zones.jsp
· Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. To locate an agent
in your area visit:
http//www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/agentsearch/searchform.jsp
· If you live in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) or high risk area and have a
federally backed mortgage, your mortgage lender requires you to have flood
insurance. To find out if you are in an SFHA visit:
http//www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/riskassessment/findpropertyform.jsp
· 66% of flood deaths occur in vehicles, and most happen when drivers make a
single, fatal mistake trying to navigate through flood waters.
·
Just 6 inches of rapidly moving flood water can knock a person
down.
·
A mere 2 feet of water can float a large vehicle even a bus.
· One-third of flooded roads and bridges are so damaged by water that any
vehicle trying to cross stands only a 50% chance of making it to the
other side.
· Floods and flash floods happen in all 50 states.
· Everyone lives in a flood zone.
· Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. If you live in a
Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) or high risk area and have a federally backed
mortgage, your mortgage lender requires you to have flood insurance.
· Just an inch of water can cause costly damage to your property.
· Flash floods often bring walls of water 10 to 20 feet high.
·
A car can easily be carried away by just
two feet of floodwater.
· Hurricanes, winter storms and snow melt are common (but often overlooked)
causes of flooding.
· New land development can increase flood risk, especially if the construction
Flood Effects
Floods are one
of the most common hazards in the
However, all
floods are not alike. Some
floods develop slowly, sometimes over a period of days.
But flash floods can develop
quickly, sometimes in just a few minutes and without any visible
signs of rain. Flash floods
often have a dangerous wall of roaring water that carries rocks,
mud, and other debris and can sweep away most things in its path.
Overland flooding occurs outside a defined river or stream, such as
when a levee is breached, but still can be destructive.
Flooding can also occur when
a dam breaks, producing effects similar to flash floods.
Be aware of
flood hazards no matter where you live, but especially if you live
in a low-lying area, near water or downstream from a dam. Even very
small streams, gullies, creeks, culverts, dry streambeds, or
low-lying ground that appear harmless in dry weather can flood.
Every state is at risk from this hazard.
1978 -
November 30, 2007
A significant
flood event is one with 1,500 or more paid losses (claims), or
occasionally for other significant flood event related reasons.
Events have been named
according to the most popular name at the time the events occurred.
Floods/flooding events naming is rather subjective and occurs
without a “science” similar to hurricane naming, for example.
Specifically, a flood event may occur as a result of a
hurricane, a tropical storm or a heavy rain or unusually heavy
“spring melting” in some states.
This statistical summary uses a single name (which may
include flooded counties, states and regions) for flooding events in
federally declared disaster areas since 1978.[1]
Facts
About Floods
|
EVENT/STORM NAME |
YEAR |
#
PAID LOSS CLAIMS |
TOTAL LOSS
DAMAGES PAID |
AVG PAID/ LOSS CLAIM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb-78 |
2,202 |
$20,145,418 |
$9,149 |
|
|
May-78 |
7,343 |
$43,422,439 |
$5,913 |
|
WV, IN, KY, OH FLOODS |
Dec-78 |
1,879 |
$11,934,512 |
$6,352 |
|
PA, CT, MA, NJ, NY, RI FLOODS |
Jan-79 |
8,826 |
$31,487,015 |
$3,568 |
|
ND, MN FLOODS |
Apr-79 |
2,141 |
$10,360,266 |
$4,839 |
|
|
Apr-79 |
1,954 |
$20,131,418 |
$10,303 |
|
|
Apr-79 |
1,488 |
$2,029,163 |
$1,364 |
|
TROPICAL STORM CLAUDETTE |
Jul-79 |
9,664 |
$147,295,363 |
$15,242 |
|
HURRICANE FREDERIC |
Sep-79 |
2,947 |
$45,809,311 |
$15,544 |
|
|
Sep-79 |
6,261 |
$47,085,222 |
$7,520 |
|
NJ, CT & NY FLOODS |
Apr-80 |
2,159 |
$7,156,481 |
$3,315 |
|
|
Apr-80 |
12,831 |
$86,279,354 |
$6,724 |
|
HURRICANE ALLEN |
Aug-80 |
3,636 |
$27,454,134 |
$7,551 |
|
|
Jun-81 |
2,143 |
$13,414,893 |
$6,260 |
|
|
Aug-81 |
2,740 |
$20,958,042 |
$7,649 |
|
|
Apr-82 |
3,187 |
$20,785,522 |
$6,522 |
|
RI, MA, CT FLOODS |
Jun-82 |
2,189 |
$15,684,431 |
$7,165 |
|
THE “NO-NAME STORM” |
Jun-82 |
2,921 |
$10,474,435 |
$3,586 |
|
MO, IL FLOODS |
Dec-82 |
3,172 |
$29,851,938 |
$9,411 |
|
|
Dec-82 |
1,636 |
$12,917,415 |
$7,896 |
|
|
Apr-83 |
11,581 |
$104,833,841 |
$9,052 |
|
ALICIA |
Aug-83 |
10,518 |
$119,388,681 |
$11,351 |
|
NEW |
Mar-84 |
4,096 |
$22,163,537 |
$5,411 |
|
NEW |
Apr-84 |
2,471 |
$33,300,119 |
$13,476 |
|
|
May-84 |
2,654 |
$32,623,472 |
$12,292 |
|
ELENA |
Aug-85 |
8,234 |
$81,322,383 |
$9,876 |
|
GLORIA |
Sep-85 |
6,088 |
$39,194,422 |
$6,438 |
|
ISABEL OCTOBER |
Oct-85 |
1,612 |
$5,769,195 |
$3,579 |
|
JUAN |
Oct-85 |
6,187 |
$90,987,478 |
$14,706 |
|
|
Feb-86 |
2,003 |
$34,838,406 |
$17,393 |
|
|
Apr-88 |
3,003 |
$17,124,219 |
$5,702 |
|
|
May-89 |
2,562 |
$59,020,120 |
$23,037 |
|
TROPICAL STORM ALLISON |
Jun-89 |
3,128 |
$39,305,870 |
$12,566 |
|
HURRICANE CHANTEL |
Aug-89 |
2,919 |
$39,510,677 |
$13,536 |
|
HUGO |
Sep-89 |
12,843 |
$376,494,566 |
$29,315 |
|
|
Nov-89 |
4,455 |
$48,911,213 |
$10,979 |
|
|
Jun-91 |
1,921 |
$15,832,279 |
$8,242 |
|
BOB |
Aug-91 |
2,821 |
$49,707,690 |
$17,621 |
|
HALLOWEEN |
Oct-91 |
9,541 |
$143,158,088 |
$15,005 |
|
DE, NJ, PR FLOODS |
Jan-92 |
3,211 |
$30,087,521 |
$9,370 |
|
|
Mar-92 |
2,353 |
$50,956,063 |
$21,656 |
|
ANDREW |
Aug-92 |
5,589 |
$169,226,364 |
$30,278 |
|
NOR'EASTER |
Dec-92 |
25,141 |
$346,151,231 |
$13,768 |
|
MARCH STORM |
Mar-93 |
9,841 |
$212,616,751 |
$21,605 |
|
|
Jun-93 |
10,472 |
$272,827,070 |
$26,053 |
|
|
Oct-94 |
6,227 |
$217,667,705 |
$34,955 |
|
CA FLOOD |
Jan-95 |
3,410 |
$74,842,843 |
$21,948 |
|
|
May-95 |
31,343 |
$585,072,008 |
$18,667 |
|
OPAL |
Oct-95 |
10,343 |
$405,528,543 |
$39,208 |
|
NORTHEAST FLOOD |
Jan-96 |
12,523 |
$186,623,944 |
$14,902 |
|
NORTHWEST FLOOD |
Feb-96 |
2,329 |
$61,903,974 |
$26,580 |
|
BERTHA |
Jul-96 |
1,166 |
$10,388,364 |
$8,909 |
|
FRAN |
Sep-96 |
10,315 |
$217,844,647 |
$21,119 |
|
HORTENSE |
Sep-96 |
1,381 |
$20,215,202 |
$14,638 |
|
JOSEPHINE |
Oct-96 |
6,512 |
$102,604,272 |
$15,756 |
|
NORTHEAST FLOOD |
Oct-96 |
3,480 |
$40,837,392 |
$11,735 |
|
|
Dec-96 |
1,858 |
$39,697,267 |
$21,366 |
|
SOUTH CENTRAL FLOOD |
Feb-97 |
4,529 |
$100,436,961 |
$22,176 |
|
|
Apr-97 |
7,398 |
$160,102,096 |
$21,641 |
|
PINEAPPLE EXPRESS |
Jan-98 |
4,228 |
$57,677,068 |
$13,642 |
|
NOR'EASTER |
Feb-98 |
3,212 |
$28,011,723 |
$8,721 |
|
HURRICANE BONNIE |
Aug-98 |
2,675 |
$23,073,621 |
$8,626 |
|
|
Sep-98 |
4,876 |
$78,402,450 |
$16,079 |
|
|
Sep-98 |
5,174 |
$50,987,804 |
$9,855 |
|
HURRICANE GEORGES (KEYS) |
Sep-98 |
3,436 |
$43,134,378 |
$12,554 |
|
HURRICANE GEORGES-MS,PR,LA |
Sep-98 |
848 |
$14,150,532 |
$16,687 |
|
HURRICANE GEORGES (PANHANDLE) |
Sep-98 |
1,680 |
$23,250,392 |
$13,840 |
|
|
Oct-98 |
3,191 |
$143,784,176 |
$45,059 |
|
HURRICANE FLOYD |
Sep-99 |
20,439 |
$462,270,253 |
$22,617 |
|
HURRICANE IRENE |
Oct-99 |
13,682 |
$117,922,109 |
$8,619 |
|
|
Oct-00 |
9,276 |
$158,283,182 |
$17,064 |
|
TROPICAL STORM ALLISON |
Jun-01 |
30,637 |
$1,101,928,972 |
$35,967 |
|
TROPICAL STORM GABRIELLE |
Sep-01 |
2,418 |
$34,836,088 |
$14,407 |
|
|
Jul-02 |
1,895 |
$70,583,720 |
$37,247 |
|
TROPICAL STORM ISADORE |
Sep-02 |
8,432 |
$113,002,423 |
$13,402 |
|
HURRICANE LILI |
Oct-02 |
2,550 |
$36,159,307 |
$14,180 |
|
|
Oct-02 |
3,248 |
$88,870,862 |
$27,362 |
|
HURRICANE ISABEL |
Sep-03 |
19,745 |
$481,434,025 |
$24,383 |
|
HURRICANE CHARLEY |
Aug-04 |
2,606 |
$50,321,806 |
$19,310 |
|
HURRICANE |
Sep-04 |
4,943 |
$150,225,086 |
$30,391 |
|
HURRICANE IVAN |
Sep-04 |
27,490 |
$1,545,224,485 |
$56,210 |
|
HURRICANE JEANNE |
Sep-04 |
5,369 |
$126,613,376 |
$23,582 |
|
HURRICANE DENNIS |
Jul-05 |
3,792 |
$118,222,860 |
$31,177 |
|
HURRICANE KATRINA |
Aug-05 |
165,452 |
$15,840,910,766 |
$95,743 |
|
HURRICANE RITA |
Sep-05 |
9,400 |
$452,897,331 |
$48,181 |
|
TROPICAL STORM TAMMY |
Oct-05 |
4,112 |
$44,570,322 |
$10,839 |
|
HURRICANE WILMA |
Oct-05 |
9,588 |
$361,299,815 |
$37,683 |
|
PA, NJ, NY FLOODS |
Jun-06 |
6,372 |
$222,322,619 |
$34,891 |
|
HURRICANE PAUL |
Oct-06 |
1,504 |
$37,136,988 |
$24,692 |
|
NOR'EASTER |
Apr-07 |
8,561 |
$218,361,495 |
$25,507 |
Familiarize yourself with these terms to help identify a flood
hazard:
Flood Watch
Flooding is possible. Tune
in to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for
information.
Flash Flood Watch
Flash flooding is possible. Be
prepared to move to higher ground; listen to NOAA Weather Radio,
commercial radio, or television for information.
Flood Warning
Flooding is occurring or will occur soon; if advised to
evacuate, do so immediately.
Flash Flood Warning
A flash flood is occurring; seek higher ground on foot
immediately.
Lessons From History
Consequences And Outcomes Of Floods
Beyond the risk of fatalities, floods devastate homes, towns,
and even entire regions.
Great floods have also been a catalyst for changes in
flood control and management policies and agencies, as well as
the insurance industry.
Examples of several great floods in the
1.
In the spring of 1927, the river broke
out of its banks in 145 places during the Great Mississippi
Flood of 1927 and inundated 27,000 square miles (70,000 km²) to
a depth of up to 30 feet.
The severe flooding
of the
The
1927 flood disaster was such that the government was forced to
step in, ushering in the subsequent era of growing Federal
involvement in disaster relief and recovery.
The relief effort was massive but uneven, with inequities
largely falling along racial lines.
The 1927 flood also resulted in a “sea” of change in
strategies for flood control and river management in the
For more specific details and facts
about the effects of this flood visit:
http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2002AM/finalprogram/abstract_44272.htm
2.
The great Mississippi River Flood of 1993 covered an area 500 mi
les long and 200 miles wide.
More than 50,000 homes were damaged, and 12,000 miles of
farmland were washed out.
Over 1,000 of the 1,300 levees designed to hold back flood
waters failed, though major cities along the rivers, like
Over 70,000 people were displaced by the floods.
Nearly 50,000 homes were
damaged or destroyed and 52 people died.
Over 12,000 square miles
of productive farmland were rendered useless.
Damage was estimated
between $15-20 billion.
For more specific details and facts about the effects of this
flood visit:
www.weather.com/encyclopedia/flood/miss93.html
3.
The
www.weather.com/encyclopedia/flood/tom76.html
[1] The background shading in the table below exclusively represents delineations by year for the flood events listed.