Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in the United States. FEMA estimates floods affect every state, and even areas that have historically not flooded are increasingly at risk due to changing weather patterns and increased urban development. Ready.gov’s Flood Hazard Information Sheet provides essential guidance on how to prepare for, survive, and recover from flooding events. This guide expands on that information and explains how PubSafe can help your community stay connected and safe when floodwaters rise.
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Understanding Flood Types
Not all floods are alike. Understanding the type of flood threat in your area helps you prepare appropriately:
- Flash floods: Occur within 6 hours of heavy rainfall, dam failure, or a sudden ice jam break. They are the deadliest type of flood in the U.S., killing more people per year than any other weather-related hazard. Flash floods can sweep through canyons, riverbeds, and urban streets with little warning.
- River floods: Result from prolonged rainfall or snowmelt causing rivers to overflow their banks. These events typically develop over days or weeks, allowing more time for warning and preparation.
- Coastal floods: Caused by storm surge from hurricanes or tropical storms, or by king tides. Sea level rise is increasing the frequency of coastal flooding in many U.S. cities.
- Urban floods: Occur when stormwater drainage systems are overwhelmed by heavy rainfall. Can happen in any city, including areas far from rivers or coasts.
Before a Flood: Preparedness Actions
- Know your flood zone. FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center (msc.fema.gov) allows you to look up the flood zone designation for any address. Properties in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) have the highest risk.
- Purchase flood insurance. Standard homeowners and renters insurance does NOT cover flood damage. Purchase separately through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private insurer. Note the 30-day waiting period before coverage takes effect.
- Elevate utilities and appliances. Move electrical panels, HVAC systems, water heaters, and major appliances to upper floors or elevated platforms. Install check valves in plumbing to prevent floodwater from backing up into the house.
- Prepare an emergency kit. Include water (one gallon per person per day for at least 3 days), non-perishable food, medications, important documents in waterproof containers, flashlights, and a battery-powered radio.
- Know your evacuation routes. Identify multiple routes out of your area in case some roads are flooded. Know the location of your local emergency shelter.
- Sign up for emergency alerts. The National Weather Service issues Flood Watches (conditions favorable for flooding) and Flood Warnings (flooding is occurring or imminent).
During a Flood
- If told to evacuate, evacuate immediately. Do not wait to see if the water will rise to your home.
- Never drive through floodwater. Six inches of water can knock a person down. One foot can carry away a small vehicle. Two feet can carry away most vehicles. “Turn Around, Don’t Drown” is the National Weather Service’s most important flood safety message.
- If trapped in a submerged vehicle, wait for pressure to equalize, then open a window or door and swim to safety.
- If caught outside with no escape, move to high ground. Avoid drainage channels, streams, and low-lying areas.
- Do not walk in moving water. Use a stick to check firmness of ground before each step.
After a Flood
- Do not return home until local authorities say it is safe
- Avoid floodwater — it may be contaminated with sewage, chemicals, or other hazardous materials
- Document all damage with photos before beginning cleanup and file your flood insurance claim immediately
- Check for structural damage before entering: cracks in foundations, warped floors, disconnected utilities
- Discard any food that has come into contact with floodwater, including canned goods with dented or damaged seals
- Beware of post-flood scams — unlicensed contractors and fraudulent disaster relief organizations often emerge after major flooding events
How PubSafe Helps During Flood Events
Flooding events require real-time communication and coordination — precisely what PubSafe is built to provide. When floodwaters are rising, PubSafe enables community members to mark flooded road segments and hazardous areas in real time, helping neighbors and emergency responders avoid danger. PubSafe also supports evacuation coordination, helping communities organize carpooling and transportation assistance; post-flood welfare checks to ensure vulnerable residents are accounted for; and damage reporting to help emergency managers prioritize response resources.
In a major flood, 911 centers are overwhelmed, roads are impassable, and traditional communication channels may be down. PubSafe provides a resilient, community-powered alternative that keeps neighbors connected and informed. Connecting your neighborhood on PubSafe before the next flood is one of the most impactful preparedness steps your community can take.
Resources
- Ready.gov Floods page
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center: msc.fema.gov
- National Flood Insurance Program: floodsmart.gov
- NOAA Flood Safety: weather.gov/safety/flood
Download the Ready.gov Flood Hazard Information Sheet and check your flood zone today. Then join PubSafe and connect your neighborhood — because flood preparedness is a community effort.
The National Flood Insurance Program: What You Need to Know
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is FEMA’s primary tool for making flood insurance accessible to American property owners and renters. Created in 1968, the NFIP provides flood insurance to communities that have adopted and enforce floodplain management ordinances. If your community participates in the NFIP (most do), you can purchase flood insurance through an insurance agent even if private insurers do not offer coverage in your area.
Standard NFIP policies offer up to $250,000 in building coverage and $100,000 in contents coverage for residential properties. For higher-value properties, private flood insurance or excess flood insurance can supplement NFIP coverage. Renters can purchase contents-only NFIP policies — an important and underutilized option for apartment dwellers in flood-prone areas.
The NFIP’s Community Rating System (CRS) allows communities that go beyond minimum floodplain management requirements to earn premium discounts for their residents. Communities earn CRS points for activities like providing public information about flood hazards, implementing flood hazard mapping beyond FEMA minimums, and implementing flood damage reduction programs. Check your community’s CRS rating — if it participates, you may be eligible for significant premium discounts.
FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0, implemented in 2021, significantly changed how NFIP premiums are calculated. Under the new methodology, premiums more accurately reflect a property’s specific flood risk rather than being based solely on flood zone designation. Some properties saw premium decreases under Risk Rating 2.0; others saw increases. Check with your insurance agent to understand how your specific premium is calculated and whether your flood risk has changed in recent years.
Flood Mitigation and Property Protection
Beyond purchasing flood insurance, homeowners and communities can take active steps to reduce flood damage. At the property level, these include: dry floodproofing (sealing the building envelope to prevent water entry, appropriate for commercial structures in shallow flood zones); wet floodproofing (allowing water to enter a structure while modifying the interior to minimize damage — used for enclosed areas below the base flood elevation); elevating the structure (the most effective mitigation measure for residential buildings, often required for substantially damaged or improved buildings in Special Flood Hazard Areas); and elevating utilities and mechanical systems above the base flood elevation.
FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program provide funding to states, territories, tribes, and local governments for pre-disaster mitigation projects, including home buyouts in the highest-risk flood zones, home elevations, and community floodproofing projects. These programs are funded after major disaster declarations and can provide significant financial assistance to flood-prone communities. Contact your local emergency management agency to learn about mitigation funding opportunities in your area.
Connect your neighborhood on PubSafe to coordinate mutual aid during flood events and share real-time information about flood levels, road conditions, and available resources. A connected neighborhood is a more resilient neighborhood — and in the aftermath of a flood, that connection can make a meaningful difference in how quickly your community recovers.
