Please note that this page is still undergoing construction. More information will be added in the near future.
Be Prepared for a Flood
A flood is a temporary overflow of water onto land that is normally dry. Floods are the most common natural disaster in the world.

Information from FEMA
- Fact Sheet: Flood Insurance, What to Know (Website)
- Be Prepared for a Flood (PDF)
- Protect Your Home From Flooding (PDF)
- Flood Insurance (Website)
Flood Ordinances
- More info to come
Quick Facts
Floods can:
- Happen in anywhere in the U.S. or its territories.
- Happen at any time of the year.
- Result from heavy rainfall or rapid snowmelt that have oversaturated the ground or exceeded the capacity of rivers and lakes.
- Occur when strong winds from tropical storms or hurricanes push seawater up onto coastal land causing a storm surge.
- Result from levee or dam breaks.
- Happen when debris or ice block the natural flow of waterways.
- Occur slowly over many days or happen very quickly with little or no warning.
- Cause power outages; pollute drinking water systems; lead to crop loss; displace people from their homes; and damage buildings and infrastructure.
Protect Yourself Key Messages
- Monitor communications and follow instructions from local officials.
- Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwaters; turn around, don’t drown!
- Plan to evacuate AND be ready to shelter in place.
- Move to higher ground or a higher floor to stay above rising floodwaters. Do not become trapped in a basement or attic.
- Stay off bridges over fast-moving water. Fast moving water can wash bridges away without warning.
- Purchase flood insurance. Most homeowners and renters insurance does not cover flooding. Get flood coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program.

Know Your Risk
- Impact – Flooding can cause fatalities, injuries to physical and mental health, and extensive damage to homes, business, crops and infrastructure – Learn More.
- What – Flooding is an overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry – Learn More.
- When – Flooding can happen at any time of the year – Learn More.
- Where – Flooding can happen anywhere – Learn More.
Words to Know
- Evacuation: Leaving an area due to unsafe conditions.
- Flood Watch: A notification that flooding is possible. Conditions are favorable for flooding to occur.
- Flood Advisory: A notification that floodwaters may cause disruptions to daily routines and impact travel; officials do not expect flooding to be severe enough to issue a flood warning.
- Flood Warning: A notification that flooding is about to occur or occurring.
- Flash Flood: A flood that can happen within minutes or hours of heavy rainfall, a dam or levee failure, or city drains overflowing. Flash floods develop quickly, sometimes in just a few minutes and without any visible signs of rain.
- Flash Flood Watch: A notification that flash flooding is possible. Conditions are favorable for flash flooding to occur.
- Flash Flood Warning: A notification that flash flooding is about to occur or occurring. Immediately move to high ground.
Featured Protective Actions
- Sign up to receive emergency alerts and notifications. Learn what it means to be under a flood watch or warning and take action to stay safe.
- Review your insurance — standard insurance policies do not cover flooding.
- Create a communication plan to stay connected with family, friends and neighbors.
- Develop an evacuation plan. Consider where you will go and how you will get there.
- Practice your evacuation route.
- Be ready to shelter in place. Evacuation is not always possible or the safest option.
- Take steps to waterproof and protect your property and belongings.
- Consider how your location and personal circumstances affect your risk of experiencing impacts from floods.
- Be alert for extreme rainfall which can be a sign of flooding, but remember that flash floods develop quickly, sometimes in just a few minutes and without any visible signs of rain.
- Consider how the spread of air-borne and infectious diseases (such as gastrointestinal disease, influenza and other respiratory viruses) factor into your disaster preparedness plans.
- Stay away from floodwater — it may contain contaminates or hidden hazards and moving floodwater can sweep people away.
- After an evacuation, return to your home only after local officials have said it is safe to do so. Pay attention to and follow guidance from local officials. Be alert for changing guidelines.
- Follow guidance on water safety — do not assume that your water is safe to use after a flood.
- Wear protective gear. Be careful during clean up and when entering a building affected by floods.
- Be aware of outdoors hazards after a flood. Be alert for downed or unstable trees, utility poles and power lines.
- Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water.
- Use generators or other gasoline-powered machinery properly, only outdoors, and away from open windows and doors in your home. For more information, visit: OSHA’s Using Portable Generators Safely and FEMA’s Generator Safety – Stay Safe Graphics.
- Document damage to your property and contact your flood insurer to file a flood insurance claim.
- Do not drive around roadblocks or onto closed roads.