Flood Risk Scenarios

Everyone is at risk.
Floods can happen almost anywhere. They are not limited to coastal areas or to devastating tropical storms - they happen more often and in more locations than you may realize.

In fact, floods are the most common natural disaster in the U.S.

So what’s your flood risk? These hypothetical scenarios can help you find out.

Once you understand your risk, you can understand how to protect yourself from financial loss due to flooding.

Which scenario applies to you?

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Bill’s Story / Snow Melt

Winter in the Heartland
Bill lives on a farm in rural Minnesota, a relatively flat area located 15 miles from a small stream. His property is exposed to heavy snowfall that accumulates over the winter months. As spring approaches, the snow begins to melt while the ground is still frozen. With no ground absorption and little to no drainage, the snow melt becomes a slow flood. Bill’s home and surrounding structures experience a flood that could last for a week or more.

Danielle’s Story / Flash Flood

It Never Rains?
Danielle lives in an outlying suburb of Tucson, Arizona, an arid region that sees little rainfall. Late one summer, a current of warm, moist air blows in from the Gulf of California, bringing with it a torrential downpour. With no rain for the past several months, the desert climate has made the ground bone-dry and unable to absorb the rainfall. Within a couple hours, the rushing water carrying deadly debris crashes through Danielle’s neighborhood. The flooding causes massive destruction, sweeping away everything in its path.

John’s Story / New Development

A Growth Experience
John lives in a relatively new suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. Near his home, an apartment complex is being built. As a severe thunderstorm moves in, heavy rains rapidly accumulate. With less land available to absorb the precipitation, the water has nowhere to go and begins to pool. John’s neighborhood experiences a flood that lasts only hours, but causes thousands of dollars in damage.

Sarah’s Story / Dams/Levees

Watering the Garden State
Sarah lives in Essex County, New Jersey, several miles from a small earthen dam. One spring, a strong Nor’easter comes up the coast, bringing heavy rains that last for days. As the rainwater accumulates, the small dam reaches its "worst case scenario" capacity. Under the pressure of this extra water, the dam collapses. Sarah’s community experiences a flood that lasts for several days and causes extreme damage to homes and businesses in the area.

Jorge’s Story / Tropical Storm

Port in the Storm?
Jorge lives in a small community 168 miles inland from Miami. When a hurricane hits the coast, Jorge feels safe from harm. Days later, the tropical storm system moves in and stalls over Jorge’s community. Steady torrential rains from the tropical storm slowly begin to accumulate. The ground becomes saturated and storm drains are quickly overwhelmed. The community experiences a major flood that lasts for days.

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