Hurricanes Can Bring Inland Flooding
This hurricane season, be smart about storm effects–wherever you live.
Statistics from the National Flood Insurance Program
As an example, the 2017 hurricane season was the costliest to date in our nation’s history. Two major hurricanes—Harvey and Irma—blasted the U.S. coast with winds exceeding 130 miles per hour (mph), and savage Hurricane Maria rocked Puerto Rico with winds exceeding 155 mph.
Totals are still being calculated, but early tabulations indicate that the U.S. suffered more than $200 billion worth of damage from 17 named storms during the season, which began June 1 and ends Thursday, November 30. That easily eclipses the previous record of about $159 billion, set during the summer of 2005, when Hurricane Katrina inflicted massive devastation on New Orleans. A record 28 named storms formed that year.
Inland Flooding: Did you know…
Some of the most damaging floods after a hurricane occur hundreds of miles from the coast.
A tropical storm can produce more rainfall than a Category 5 hurricane. The largest amount of rainfall from hurricanes is usually produced by slow moving tropical storms that stall over an area. As all hurricanes weaken to tropical storms and move inland, the threat of torrential rains and high winds over large areas intensify the risks of flooding.
Inland flooding can occur almost immediately–and even a small amount of flooding can cause significant risk and damage. As tropical storms move inland, rainfall dumped in short timeframes can result in flash flooding that can last up to a week or more. Just six inches of moving water can sweep a person off his or her feet, and only a few inches of water can cause thousands of dollars of damage to homes and businesses.
Be Smart – Inland Flooding Preparedness Tips:
- Monitor any tropical storm systems. Make sure you and your family are aware of storm paths and pay attention to any flood-related advisories or warnings for your community.
- Make sure you have an emergency plan and contact. Plan and practice a flood evacuation route and ask someone out of state to be a “family contact” in case you are separated from loved ones.
- Get flood insurance. Call us at (808) 334-0044 learn your risk, prepare for inland flooding and discover how to purchase a National Flood Insurance Policy. A 30-day wait period means you should act now to protect your property.