(Washington, D.C., Thursday, August 4, 2022) With peak hurricane season approaching, FEMA is urging residents to understand their flood risk and act now. 2022 is poised to be the seventh consecutive above-average hurricane season, so it’s more important than ever for DC residents to protect their homes and families against flooding.
Hurricane season brings heavy precipitation that can lead to destructive flooding and metropolitan areas have hidden risks that can put local homes and businesses in danger—even if they’re far from a water source. Storms are coming rapidly and in different ways; changing weather patterns, small streams and old and limited drainage can all turn heavy rain into flash floods within minutes.
Residents may be faced with unpredictable storms and just one inch of water in a home can cause roughly $25,000 dollars in damage. Residents can visit floodsmart.gov/hurricanes for more information on their flood risk and what coverage may be best for them.
Background:
• Anywhere it can rain, it can flood. You don’t need to live near the coast to be at risk of flooding. In fact, 40% of floods come from outside the high-risk flood zone.
• Flood insurance policies typically take 30 days to go into effect. If you wait to purchase a policy until after a flood event begins, your property won’t be protected from the damage caused.
• About 90% of all U.S. natural disasters involve flooding.