Flood Safety
Q: Is flooding really that big of a deal?
Flooding causes more damage in the United States than any other severe weather related
event, an average of $4.6 billion a year in the past 20 years (1984-2003). Flooding can occur
in any of the 50 states or U.S. territories at anytime of the year.
Q: How can I find out if I am in danger from a flood?
NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards is one of the best ways to receive warnings from the
National Weather Service. NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards is a nationwide network of radio
stations broadcasting continuous weather and river information direct from nearby NWS
offices. Also, the NWS web page provides forecasts and warning and identifies where
flooding is occurring (www.weather.gov/water).
Q: How do I know how severe a flood will be?
Once a river reaches flood stage, the flood severity categories used by the NWS include
minor flooding, moderate flooding, and major flooding. Each category has a definition based
on property damage and public threat.
Minor Flooding - minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat or
inconvenience
Moderate Flooding - some inundation of structures and roads near streams. Some
evacuations of people and/or transfer of property to higher elevations are necessary.
Major Flooding - extensive inundation of structures and roads. Significant evacuations of
people and/or transfer of property to higher elevations.
The impacts of a floods vary locally. For each NWS river forecast location, flood stage and the
stage associated with each of the NWS flood severity categories are established in
cooperation with local public officials. Increasing river levels above flood stage constitute
minor, moderate, and major flooding. Impacts vary from one river location to another
because a certain river stage (height) in one location may have an entirely different impact
than the same level above flood stage at another location.
Q: What's the difference between a flood and flash flood?
A flood occurs when prolonged rainfall over several days, intense rainfall over a short period
of time, or an ice or debris jam causes a river or stream to overflow and flood the surrounding
area. Melting snow can combine with rain in the winter and early spring; severe
thunderstorms can bring heavy rain in the spring and summer; or tropical cyclones can bring
intense rainfall to the coastal and inland states in the summer and fall.
A flash floods occur within six hours of a rain event, or after a dam or levee failure, or
following a sudden release of water held by an ice or debris jam, and flash floods can catch
people unprepared. You will not always have a warning that these deadly, sudden floods are
coming. So, if you live in areas prone to flash floods, plan now to protect your family and
property. The use of the word “flash” here is synonymous with “urgent.”
Q: Is there anything I can do to prepare for a flood?
How to reduce potential flood damage and what to include in a family disaster plan can be
obtained from the American Red Cross.
The NWS works with and relies on strategic partners involved in floodplain management,
flood hazard mitigation, flood preparedness, and flood warnings to reduce the loss of life and
property due to floods. Key partners include the U.S. Geological Survey, FEMA, the National
Hydrologic Warning Council, the Association of State Floodplain Managers, the American
Red Cross, the National Safety Council, the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, The Weather
Channel, and other media outlets, and many other government and private sector
organizations.
Q: Is flooding really that big of a deal?
Flooding causes more damage in the United States than any other severe weather related
event, an average of $4.6 billion a year in the past 20 years (1984-2003). Flooding can occur
in any of the 50 states or U.S. territories at anytime of the year.
Q: How can I find out if I am in danger from a flood?
NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards is one of the best ways to receive warnings from the
National Weather Service. NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards is a nationwide network of radio
stations broadcasting continuous weather and river information direct from nearby NWS
offices. Also, the NWS web page provides forecasts and warning and identifies where
flooding is occurring (www.weather.gov/water).
Q: How do I know how severe a flood will be?
Once a river reaches flood stage, the flood severity categories used by the NWS include
minor flooding, moderate flooding, and major flooding. Each category has a definition based
on property damage and public threat.
Minor Flooding - minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat or
inconvenience
Moderate Flooding - some inundation of structures and roads near streams. Some
evacuations of people and/or transfer of property to higher elevations are necessary.
Major Flooding - extensive inundation of structures and roads. Significant evacuations of
people and/or transfer of property to higher elevations.
The impacts of a floods vary locally. For each NWS river forecast location, flood stage and the
stage associated with each of the NWS flood severity categories are established in
cooperation with local public officials. Increasing river levels above flood stage constitute
minor, moderate, and major flooding. Impacts vary from one river location to another
because a certain river stage (height) in one location may have an entirely different impact
than the same level above flood stage at another location.
Q: What's the difference between a flood and flash flood?
A flood occurs when prolonged rainfall over several days, intense rainfall over a short period
of time, or an ice or debris jam causes a river or stream to overflow and flood the surrounding
area. Melting snow can combine with rain in the winter and early spring; severe
thunderstorms can bring heavy rain in the spring and summer; or tropical cyclones can bring
intense rainfall to the coastal and inland states in the summer and fall.
A flash floods occur within six hours of a rain event, or after a dam or levee failure, or
following a sudden release of water held by an ice or debris jam, and flash floods can catch
people unprepared. You will not always have a warning that these deadly, sudden floods are
coming. So, if you live in areas prone to flash floods, plan now to protect your family and
property. The use of the word “flash” here is synonymous with “urgent.”
Q: Is there anything I can do to prepare for a flood?
How to reduce potential flood damage and what to include in a family disaster plan can be
obtained from the American Red Cross.
The NWS works with and relies on strategic partners involved in floodplain management,
flood hazard mitigation, flood preparedness, and flood warnings to reduce the loss of life and
property due to floods. Key partners include the U.S. Geological Survey, FEMA, the National
Hydrologic Warning Council, the Association of State Floodplain Managers, the American
Red Cross, the National Safety Council, the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, The Weather
Channel, and other media outlets, and many other government and private sector
organizations.
Flood Safety