Flood Hazards, Insurance and Preparedness

Flood Safety

Nearly every day, flooding happens somewhere in the United States or its territories. Flooding can occur in any of the fifty states or U.S. territories at any time of the year. It causes more damage in the United States than any other weather related event. On average, floods cause eight billion dollars in damages and eighty nine fatalities annually. Being prepared and knowing how to stay safe will help you and your loved ones survive a flood.

Prepare:

Knowing your flood risk is the best way to prepare for flooding. Find out which flooding hazards impact New Hampshire . You can also find out if you live in a flood plain by visiting FEMA’s Map Service Center at http://msc.fema.gov. There are many tips for what to do before, during and after a flood visit.

Be Aware:

Find the latest forecasts and hazardous weather conditions at http://www.weather.gov/alerts. Forecasters in NWS offices as well as at NH Emergency Management work around the clock to ensure watches, warnings and advisories are issued to alert the public to hazardous condition.  Some smart phones are able to receive Flash Flood Warning alerts via the Wireless EmergencyAlerts system http://www.weather.gov/wrn/wea. Another tool to alert you to hazardous conditions is NOAA All Hazards Radio. This nationwide network of radio stations broadcasts continuous weather, river and other emergency information direct from NWS offices and emergency officials: http://www.ready.gov/alerts

Flood Hazards

A flood is defined as any high flow, overflow, or inundation of water that causes or threatens damage. Flooding can occur with prolonged rainfall over several days, intense rainfall over a short period of time, or when water from an existing source moves too quickly (i.e. snowmelt, dam break, etc.). Brief descriptions of the various types of flooding you may experience are found below. More information about these flood hazards can be found on the NWS Flood Safety Website.

Flash Flooding:

Flash flooding is a rapid and extreme flow of high water into a normally dry area, or a rapid water level rise in a stream or creek above a predetermined flood level, beginning within six hours of the causative event (i.e.intense rainfall, dam failure, ice jam).

River Flooding:

River flooding occurs when rivers rise and overflow their banks, inundating areas that are normally dry.
Tropical Systems and Coastal Flooding: At any time of year, a storm from over the ocean can bring heavy precipitation to the U.S. coasts. Whether such a storm is tropical or not, prolonged periods of heavy precipitation can cause freshwater flooding in coastal areas, as well as further inland as the storm moves onshore. In addition to the freshwater flood threat, tropical systems and nor'easters can bring the threat of storm surge related coastal flooding.

Burn Scars/Debris Flows:

Wildfires burn away the vegetation of an area, leaving behind bare ground that tends to repel water. When rain falls, it runs off a burn scar towards a low lying area, sometimes carrying branches, soil and other debris along with it. Without vegetation to hold the soil in place, flooding can produce mud and debris flows.

Snowmelt:

Flooding due to snowmelt most often occurs in the spring when warming temperatures quickly melt the snow. The water runs off the still partially frozen or already saturated ground into nearby streams and rivers, causing them to rapidly rise and sometimes overflow their banks.
Ice and Debris Jams: A backup of water into surrounding areas can occur when a river or stream is blocked by a buildup of ice or other debris.

Dry Wash:

When heavy rain falls over dry land, the water rushes towards low-lying areas, which may include dried up canyon or stream beds. This can quickly turn a dry channel into a raging river.

Dam Break and Levee Failure:

A break or failure can occur with little to no warning. Most often they are caused by water overtopping the structure, excessive seepage through the surrounding ground, or a structural failure.

Understanding the different flood hazards and knowing the actions to take before, during, and afterwards can help you protect your life, the lives of your loved ones, and your property. Prepare now by visiting www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/flood-safety/index.html

Flood Insurance

Everyone lives in a flood zone, whether you live in a low-, moderate- or high-risk flood area. You do not need to live near water to be flooded. Floods are caused by storms, melting snow, hurricanes, water backup clue to inadequate or overloaded drainage systems, as well as broken water mains. You can protect your home, business, and belongings with flood insurance from the NFIP. Flood insurance is necessary because homeowners insurance does not cover flood losses. Anyone who applies for a federally—funded mortgage/loan or refinancing on an existing home in flood-prone areas will be required to carry flood insurance for the life of the mortgage/loan.

All residents in NFIP particiating communities can purchase flood insurance. While it is always a good idea to have flood insurance if you live in a high-risk flood area, it is also a good idea even in lower risk areas, since 25%-30% of flood insurance claims come from areas that are designated low-to-moderate risk areas. To learn more about your property's flood risk, please view FEMA's floodplain maps and/or visit FEMA's Floodsmart website and complete the One-Step Flood Risk Profile box, a red box on the left side of the page.