Coastal Services Center

Inland Flooding: What Are the Problems?

When it comes to describing hurricanes, wind speeds do not tell the whole story. Hurricanes produce storm surges, tornadoes, and often the most deadly of all – inland flooding.

While storm surge is always a potential threat, more people have died from inland flooding in the last 30 years. Intense rainfall is not directly related to the wind speed of tropical cyclones. In fact, some of the greatest rainfall amounts occur from weaker storms that drift slowly or stall over an area.

Inland flooding can be a major threat to communities hundreds of miles from the coast as intense rain falls from these huge tropical air masses. The U.S. has a significant hurricane problem. More than 60 percent of the Nation's population lives in coastal states from Maine to Texas, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Hurricane Floyd (1999) brought intense rains and record flooding to the eastern U.S. Of the 56 people who perished, 50 drowned due to inland flooding.

Tropical Storm Alberto (1994) drifted over the southern U.S. and produced torrential rainfall. More than 21 inches of rain fell at Americus, Georgia. Thirty-three people drowned and damages exceeded $750 million. Tropical Storm Claudette (1979) brought 45 inches of rain to an area near Alvin, Texas, contributing to more than $600 million in damages. Hurricane Agnes (1972) produced floods in the Northern U.S. which contributed to 122 deaths and $6.4 billion in damages. Long after the winds from Hurricane Diane (1955) subsided, the storm brought inland flooding to Pennsylvania, New York, and New England, contributing to nearly 200 deaths and $4.2 billion in damages.

So, the next time you hear hurricane — think inland flooding!

Links

National Hurricane Awareness – Inland Flooding

American Meteorological Society News Release – "Inland Flooding Was Leading Hurricane-Related Killer During Last 30 Years"