Back
to hurricane background and preparedness information
courtesy
of National
Hurricane Center
INLAND
FLOODING
NEVER
DRIVE ACROSS A FLOODED ROAD
TROPICAL
CYCLONE FATALITIES 1970-1999
RIVER
FORECAST CENTERS
HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL
PREDICTION CENTER
MAX
MAYFIELD DISCUSSES - INLAND FLOODING (0.3mb MP3mp3
file)
"In
the last 30 years, inland flooding has been responsible
for more than half the deaths associated with tropical
cyclones in the United States."
Ed
Rappaport
National Hurricane Center
Consider
the following:
Hurricane Floyd
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, J. Jordan
|
When
it comes to hurricanes, wind speeds do not tell
the whole story. Hurricanes produce storm surges,
tornadoes, and often the most deadly of all - inland
flooding.
While
storm surge is always a potential threat, more
people have died from inland flooding in the last
30 years. Intense rainfall is not directly related
to the wind speed of tropical cyclones. In fact,
some of the greatest rainfall amounts occur from
weaker storms that drift slowly or stall over
an area.
Inland
flooding can be a major threat to communities
hundreds of miles from the coast as intense
rain falls from these huge tropical air masses.
Hurricane Floyd Courtesy of
NASA/GSFC |
Hurricane
Floyd (1999) brought intense rains and record flooding
to the Eastern U.S. Of the 56 people who perished,
50 drowned due to inland flooding.
Tropical
Storm Alberto (1994) drifted over the Southeast
United States and produced torrential rainfall.
More than 21 inches of rain fell at Americus,
Georgia. Thirty-three people drowned. Damages
exceeded $750 million.
Tropical Storm Claudette (1979) brought 45 inches
of rain to an area near Alvin, Texas, contributing
to more than $600 million in damages.
Hurricane Agnes (1972) produced floods in the
Northeast United States which contributed to 122
deaths and $6.4 billion in damages. Long after
the winds from Hurricane Diane (1955) subsided,
the storm brought inland flooding to Pennsylvania,
New York, and New England contributing to nearly
200 deaths and $4.2 billion in damages.
Freshwater
floods accounted for more than half (59%) of U.S.
tropical cyclone deaths over the past 30 years.
These floods are why 63% of U.S. tropical cyclone
deaths during that period occurred in inland counties.
At
least 23% of U.S. tropical cyclone deaths occur
to people who drown in, or attempting to abandon,
their cars.
78%
of children killed by tropical cyclones drowned
in freshwater floods.
So, the next time you hear hurricane -- think
inland flooding!
What
can you do?
- When
you hear hurricane, think inland flooding.
- Determine
whether you live in a potential flood zone.
-
If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.
- Keep
abreast of road conditions through the news
media. Move
to a safe area before access is cut off by flood
water.
- Do
not attempt to cross flowing water. As little
as six inches of water may cause you to lose
control of your vehicle.
- Develop
a flood emergency action plan.
- Have
flood insurance.
Flood damage is not usually covered by
homeowners insurance. Do not make assumptions.
Check your policy.
The
National Flood Insurance Program, is a pre-disaster
flood mitigation and insurance protection
program. The National Flood Insurance Program
makes federally backed flood insurance available
to residents and business owners
National
Flood Insurance Program call 1-888-CALL-FLOOD
ext. 445, TDD# 1-800-427-5593.
