Floods are common in the United States. Weather such as heavy rain, thunderstorms or hurricanes can cause flooding. Flooding can also happen when a river or stream overflows its bank, when a levee is breached, or when a dam breaks. Flash floods, which can develop quickly, often have a dangerous wall of roaring water. The wall carries rocks, mud, and rubble and can sweep away most things in its path.
Be aware of flood hazards no matter where you live, but especially if you live in a low-lying area, near water or downstream from a dam. Although there are no guarantees of safety during a flood, you can take actions to protect yourself. You should have a disaster plan. Being prepared can help reduce fear, anxiety and losses.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Flood(Federal Emergency Management Agency) - http://www.fema.gov/hazard/flood/index.shtm
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Floods(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/
Also available in Spanish http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/espanol/
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Flood and Flash Flood(American Red Cross) - http://www.redcross.org/services/prepare/0,1082,0_240_,00.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.cruzrojaamericana.org/general.asp?SN=200&OP=216&SUOP=245
- Flooding(Environmental Protection Agency) - http://www.epa.gov/naturalevents/flooding.html
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Floods(Dept. of Homeland Security) - http://www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/floods.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.listo.gov/america/beinformed/floods.html
- Severe Weather Primer: Questions and Answers About Floods(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) - http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/primer/flood/fld_basics.html
- Flood Cleanup(Environmental Protection Agency, Indoor Environments Division) - http://www.epa.gov/mold/flood/index.html
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Flood Fire Safety(United States Fire Administration) - http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/safety/tips/flood.shtm
Also available in Spanish https://www.usfa.dhs.gov/espanol/homefireprevention/seasonal-floods.shtm
- Floods(Occupational Safety and Health Administration) - http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/emergencypreparedness/guides/floods.html
- Food Safety for Consumers Returning Home After a Hurricane and/or Flooding(Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition) - http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fsdisas5.html
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What Consumers Need to Know About Food and Water Safety During Hurricanes, Power Outages and Floods(Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition) - http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fsdisas.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/sfsdisas.html
- Your Flood Risk(Federal Emergency Management Agency) - http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/your_flood_risk/your_flood_risk.jsp
- U.S. Weather Watch/Warning Map(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) - http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/wwa/
- Floods and Flash Flooding(Healthy Roads Media) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.healthyroadsmedia.org/english/Files/flv/engfloods.htm
- Article: 'It'll never happen to me': understanding public awareness of local... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18380852&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Flooding in Emerald and Charleville. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18309804&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Residents' awareness and behaviour regarding typhoon evacuation advice in Hyogo... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18275531&tool=MedlinePlus
- Floods -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(flood*[tiab]+AND+natural+disasters[mh])+AND+(disaster+planning[mh]+OR+emergencies[mh])+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
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American Red Cross - http://www.redcross.org/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cruzrojaamericana.org/
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - http://www.cdc.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/
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Federal Emergency Management Agency - http://www.fema.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.fema.gov/spanish/index_spa.shtm
- Flood Facts(Federal Emergency Management Agency) - http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/flood_facts.jsp
- Coping with Disasters - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/copingwithdisasters.html
- Disaster Preparation and Recovery - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/disasterpreparationandrecovery.html
- Tsunamis - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tsunamis.html
- Disasters - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/disasters.html
Floods - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/floods.html