Hurricanes & Floods
Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in the U.S. Most hurricane deaths are caused by water (storm surge and inland flooding), not wind.
- Families
Before the storm
- Know your evacuation zone and route. Leave when officials tell you to.
- Have your emergency kit and go-bags ready.
- Check your insurance. Standard homeowners policies don’t cover flood damage; flood insurance usually has a 30-day waiting period.
- Secure or bring in outdoor furniture and anything that can blow around.
- Protect windows with storm shutters or properly installed plywood.
- Move valuables and important papers to higher floors or waterproof containers.
- Fill vehicles with gas and charge phones and batteries.
Floodwater kills
Turn Around, Don’t Drown. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, 12 inches can float a car, and 2 feet can sweep away most vehicles. Never drive or walk through floodwater, and never drive around barricades.
- Floodwater can hide downed power lines, debris, open manholes and washed-out roads.
- It is often contaminated with sewage and chemicals.
During the storm
- If not evacuating, shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor that won’t flood, away from windows.
- If water rises, move to the highest level. Don’t go into a closed attic where you could be trapped; go on the roof only as a last resort and signal for help.
- Listen for updates on a battery radio.
After the storm, see Cleaning Up After a Flood or Storm and Power Outages & Generators.
Standards & references
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