Hurricane Safety Zone

Flooding -- Most Hurricane Damage Is Caused By Flooding.

Most cities that are exposed to hurricanes are so close to sea level that the drainage systems in place aren't very effective when it comes to flooding that can result from a hurricane. Flooding can also occur when there's a body of water with levies that may not hold in the event of a hurricane. For residents of New Orleans, the levies for Lake Pontchartrain broke, which made a bad situation (Hurricane Katrina) even worse. Since they haven't had time to fix the levies yet, as little as 3 inches of rain in a six-hour period of time can cause even more flooding in an area that's already heavily damaged by flooding from the hurricane. Unfortunately, there's a chance they'll get that rain from the outskirts of Hurricane Rita.

Hurricane flooding causes much of the damage and property loss from hurricanes , and unfortunately, loss of life. Evacuating floods can be difficult. Leave before it gets to that point. Follow your hurricane preparation guide and leave if you are in a low-lying area.

Flooding Can Occur Far Inland After a Hurricane

Even if you live inland, the effects of a hurricane can be felt. In fact, inlandflooding because of tropical storms and hurricanes has been responsible for more than half of all deaths associated with them since the 1970s. Flooding from these kinds of storms can happen hundreds of miles from coastal areas. While these areas might not get a lot of the strong winds, flooding can be a major force to be reckoned with.

Flood Insurance

Most people who have flood damage assume their homeowner's policy will cover any losses. They learn the hard way that most homeowner's policies do not cover flooding. If you live in a coastal area and you have damage from a hurricane, you might contact your homeowner's insurance company. If the adjuster determines that the damage to your property was caused by flooding instead of hurricane winds, you might not be covered unless you have flood insurance. Even an inch or two of water can ruin carpet, furniture and sometimes even appliances. And if you have structural damage to boot, you could be set back thousands and thousands of dollars. Unless you have a pretty hefty savings account, you could end up in financial ruin and looking for some kind of debt management plan.

If you think your property is at risk for flooding, there are precautions you can take. But you have have to take your safety into consideration first and foremost. If you have time before the hurricane or flood comes, you can take the following steps to minimize damage from flooding:

Take valuables to the highest point in your house
Check your furnace, water heater, and electric panel to see if they are susceptible to flooding
Install "check valves" in sewer traps. This will prevent flood water from backing up into the drains of your home.
Construct barriers to stop floodwater from getting in
Seal basement walls with waterproofing compounds

Again, if flooding is a threat, you need to evacuate. It's not the first thing you think of when it comes to hurricane safety, but it's definitely a possiblty.

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