DISASTER PLANNING

FLOODS

There are different reasons a community may flood; storm surge, river flooding or heavy rainfall. Low-lying or poorly drained, areas can also increase a community's flood risk. To protect yourself, learn what flood threats can affect your community. Determine if there are rivers or creeks that flood frequently. Is your home located in a low-lying area? Determine your home's elevation.

Due to the relatively flat terrain across Florida, it is complicated to drain accumulated water. When rivers rise, water tends to spread out far from riverbanks. In the case of the 1997_98 El Niño floods, rising rivers and repeated periods of heavy rainfall combined to pool water over land miles away from rivers. In fact, normally small rivers turned into vast lakes. The pooling of water poses a significant risk, not as much from swift moving water, but more from one’s inability to judge water depth. Water only inches deep can be next to water that is several feet deep.

Flood Statistics

As little as one foot of (moving) water can move most cars off the road.
Just six inches of fast-moving flood water can sweep a person off his or her feet.
Most flood-related deaths occur at night and are vehicular.
Urban and small stream flash floods often occur in less than one hour.
Tropical cyclones pose significant risk well inland due to fresh water flooding.