People think of hurricanes as windstorms, but they also cause major flooding, sometimes hundreds of miles inland. Tropical storms, because they are slow-moving, can bring intense, lasting rains that over-saturate the ground and cause water buildup in low-lying areas.

Besides insuring your property, there are things you can do before a hurricane to minimize potential flood damage to your home and keep your family safe.
Learn more here:
Prepare for flooding

Once the storm has passed, it's time to focus on keeping your family safe and returning life to normal.
Learn more here:
Recover from flooding

Is your city at risk?
During an active hurricane season, an average of two to four hurricanes make landfall in the continental U.S. Although any coastal area is at risk, certain cities are particularly vulnerable and may have insured losses even higher than those incurred when Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans.

For example:
Houston
Houston is a low-lying city that is vulnerable because hurricanes and tropical storms gain strength in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Even though Houston is about 50 miles from the shore, Galveston Bay could act as a channel for a storm surge from the Gulf. Even a slow-moving storm can cause significant flooding. Tropical Storm Allison dumped up to 30 inches of rain in June 2001, flooding some 73,000 residences.

Tampa
Shallow ocean beds off the coast of Florida could act as a ramp for a surge of water when a hurricane approaches. Tampa Bay is shaped like a funnel into the city's downtown, potentially opening the door to billions of dollars in damage.

Miami
Miami's location sets it in the middle of a hurricane highway. Shallow waters off the coast of Florida make the city vulnerable to a high storm surge that could catastrophically affect the developed beachfront. Hurricane Andrew struck the Miami/Dade County area in 1992, causing $20 billion of damages.

Visit the National Hurricane Center for the latest hurricane forecasts and advisories.