2024’s Counties Most at Risk for Flooding

What, if anything, can homeowners do ahead of a flood to mitigate damage?

First off, keep the water out of your house. This can be:

• Traditional flood barriers.
• DIY flood barriers if it is too late to source traditional flood barriers.
• Flood defense landscaping where you can create somewhat of a raised berm or planter box in areas around the house wherever you can.

I understand you don’t want to “live in a bowl” with a berm all the way around your house, but most yards have sections where they could create a berm or a raised planter bed that will create a part of a protective perimeter. By doing this, it lessens your requirement to purchase, store, and/or deploy traditional flood barriers.

We call it flood defense landscaping where you can then do a “gap closure” by installing flood barriers (for example, across your driveway where a berm is unacceptable). This is the first line of defense.

Additional lines of defense are great where you could simply wrap your house (or doors) with plastic sheeting. It is important that the plastic sheeting is taped (we use heated Gorilla tape) around the perimeter of a door or securely stuck to the soil surfaces such that water gets on top of the plastic first, which then forms a great seal to the ground and prevents seepage.

We call the sump pump the ‘last line of defense’. There are lots of water-activated systems if you have to evacuate but keep in mind that in many flood situations, the power will go out so it is good to have a backup power supply, if at all possible.

What are the steps for assessing damage after a flood?

I focus exclusively on stopping the floodwater. From my perspective, I would assess:

• Where the water comes from.
• What types of erosion took place.
• How long you had to react.
• Where water entered the structure to prevent it from happening again.

NOTE: During a flood, seepage is going to happen. Your objective is to keep the water at bay long enough for it to recede.

Who should purchase flood insurance?

Anybody in a flood zone and even then, there are lots of people who flood due to growing urbanization and non-porous surfaces.

What are three of the most common causes of flooding in the U.S.?

1. Poor urban drainage due to growing development. We are constantly speaking with people who say something along the lines of “We have lived here for many years and have never flooded. Now, we have flooded multiple times in the last year.”

If you are waiting for ‘the city’ or the local officials to fix the problem, you are simply killing time until the next flood arrives. Most people who have flooded can be expected to flood again within about 3-5 years, or less, on average.

2. Hurricane storm surges — this speaks for itself.

3. Debris flows associated with wildfire burn scar areas.

4. Bonus — vehicles driving too fast on flooded roadways. I would have never thought about this before getting into flood defense in 2003, but this is a constant problem. Roads get flooded and the flood water is commonly just up to the doors of residential houses. Then, people enjoy driving fast through flooded streets which creates a wave that lap on the front doors of houses and causes flood water to enter the house.

There are many other causes like spring run-off and rising rivers, but those are the most common.

How can flooding impact residential landscaping?

Flooding washes things away and will cover your yard with mud. If you have mulch, it will float away. If you have gravel type rock and the water is moving fast enough, it will also wash that away. If you have loose soils and moving water, you will have erosion. Overall, grass fares really well during a flood.

Also, here is a link for a simple search of flood prone areas in the USA. Insurance companies also help to provide info for similar maps because they are the ones dealing with the claims from flood loss.

Background:

We have multiple exclusive statewide contracts to supply flood barriers as well as the primary U.S. Federal flood barrier supply and technical support contract for when “Uncle Sam” steps in the help.

I have been doing flood defense operations since 2003 and last year we provided about 30 linear miles of flood barriers for governmental, commercial, and residential customers alike.

NOTE: We have the largest variety of flood barriers than any other company in the USA because we believe there is no such thing as the “best flood barrier.” Every flood is different, every location is different, and different situations call for different solutions. This allows us to provide a short list of what we believe to be the best solutions out of a variety of solutions giving the customer the feeling that they made the best decision based on a selection.

If you are in the market for flood barriers, we have found that most flood barrier providers will generally claim that their product is better than all the others. When conducting flood barrier research, and after hearing this from multiple providers, you are not sure who to trust. Therefore, we found it best to have a ‘menu’ of options to choose from with feedback and support in establishing a protective posture that fits your unique situation.

What are the steps for assessing damage after a flood?

At the U.S. Geological Survey, we assess the height of a flooding event by identifying high-water marks and surveying in their locations after the flood has receded. This information provides a way to estimate how much streamflow was in the river at the time of the flood and supplements our real-time monitoring of rivers and streams across the U.S.

More information on how high-water marks are identified and used is here.

For homeowners, this is a different answer, as property damage and infrastructure within and connected to your home may need to be assessed.

What are three of the most common causes of flooding in the U.S.?

This is a complex question because the common causes of flooding in the U.S. generally vary based on the region.

For example, in places in the U.S. where snow falls, snowmelt events or rain-on-snow events are common causes of flooding.

In places prone to tropical cyclones or hurricanes, flooding is a common result.

And yet, for other places, the main causes of flooding could come from downpours resulting from convective storms that also bring lightning and thunder. Understanding the causes of flooding in the U.S. and how they may change in the future is an important, but open, area of research.

What, if anything, can homeowners do ahead of a flood to mitigate damage?

Homeowners can take several proactive steps to mitigate damage from potential floods.

1. First, it’s crucial to understand the flood risk of their property, often available from local government resources or flood risk maps.

2. Elevate structures as well as electrical systems and utilities.

3. Use flood-resistant building materials for renovations, which is known as waterproofing the structure.

4. Installing pumps with battery backups can significantly reduce damage.

5. Additionally, constructing barriers such as sandbags or permanent levees can help deflect water.

6. Homeowners should also prepare an emergency kit and create a family evacuation plan to ensure personal safety.

What are the steps for assessing damage after a flood?

1. After a flood, safety is the primary concern. Homeowners should first ensure that it is safe to return to their property, checking for structural damages like weakened walls and damaged flooring. It’s important to document all damages by taking photos or videos, as these will be necessary for insurance claims.

2. Removing water and drying out the home quickly is crucial to prevent mold growth.

3. Hiring professionals for electrical systems and gas checks is essential before turning on the house’s power and utilities.

4. Finally, contacting insurance companies to initiate claims and arranging for detailed inspections by experts can further aid in the recovery process.

Who should purchase flood insurance?

Flood insurance should be considered by any homeowner or renter residing in areas with a known flood risk, which includes zones designated by the government or insurance bodies as flood-prone.

It is important to note that flooding can also occur outside these designated areas, so it’s advisable for all property owners and renters to consider flood insurance, if applicable. This insurance is especially critical in regions prone to hurricanes, storms, or in areas near water bodies that can overflow.

What are three of the most common causes of flooding in the U.S.?

Three of the most common causes of flooding in the U.S. include:

• Hurricanes and tropical storms.
• Heavy or prolonged rainfall.
• Rapid melting of snow.

Hurricanes and tropical storms can bring intense rainfall and storm surges that overwhelm natural and man-made systems.

Heavy rains can quickly exceed the absorption capacity of soil and the containment of drainage systems, particularly in urban areas.

Lastly, rapid snowmelt in the spring can produce large amounts of water that rivers and lakes cannot contain, leading to overflows.

How can flooding impact residential landscaping?

Flooding can severely impact residential landscaping, from washing away plants and soil to introducing contaminants and pests.

• Saturated soil can suffocate plant roots and lead to the death of grass, flowers, and trees.
• Erosion caused by strong water flows can strip away topsoil and plant nutrients, degrading the quality of the yard and making it difficult for new plants to grow.
• Additionally, floodwaters can deposit harmful chemicals, salts, and invasive plant seeds, potentially leading to long-term issues for the garden and landscape.

To mitigate these effects, homeowners can consider landscaping with native plants that are more tolerant of local flood conditions and using strategic grading to direct water flow away from valuable plants.