Articles · Weather
Everything about Flood
13 articles across NWS
Overflow of water onto normally dry land, from flash floods, river floods, and coastal surges.
Disaster History
Case studies and disaster history
The Big Thompson Canyon Flash Flood (1976): You Cannot Outrun a Flash Flood in a Car
On July 31, 1976, a stationary thunderstorm dropped 14 inches of rain in Colorado's Big Thompson Canyon. A 20-foot wall of water swept down at 233,000 gallons per second. 144 people died. Research lat
The Buffalo Creek Flood (1972): When an Industrial Dam "Satisfactory" 4 Days Earlier Killed 125 People
On February 26, 1972, a Pittston Coal Company coal slurry impoundment dam in Logan County, West Virginia, failed without warning, releasing 132 million gallons of black floodwater. 125 people died. 17
The Grand Forks Flood (1997): The City Built to 49 Feet. The River Rose to 54.
In April 1997, the Red River rose 5 feet higher than the National Weather Service forecast. The city of Grand Forks had built its dikes to exactly the forecast level. When 50,000 people were evacuated
The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927: America's Worst River Disaster & the Law It Created
The 1927 Great Mississippi Flood displaced 700,000 people and flooded 27,000 square miles. It changed American politics, accelerated the Great Migration, and created the modern federal disaster respon
The Great Midwest Flood of 1993: 1,000 Levees Failed, and the False Promise of Flood Control
From May through September 1993, the upper Mississippi and Missouri Rivers and their tributaries flooded nine states. More than 1,000 levees failed or were overtopped. 50 deaths. $15 billion in damage
Getting Started
What to do right now
Flash Flood: What to Do Right Now
What to do when water is rising fast: move to higher ground, never drive or walk into moving water, and how deep water has to be to sweep away a person or car. Immediate action during a flash flood.
Flooding: What to Do Right Now
What to do during river or coastal flooding: when to evacuate, why you never drive into floodwater, and the moving-versus-still-water rule for a stranded vehicle. Immediate action during a flood.
Preparedness
Preparedness and self-reliance
Cargo and Hauling - Safe Loading, Trailers, and Supply Runs
How to move more than people. Five-priority evacuation loading order, the staged-bin system for 15-minute departure, roof racks and weight limits, hitch cargo carriers, trailers and tow ratings, supply run logistics, and safe cargo loading principles.
Evacuation Driving
Evacuation timing, route planning, vehicle preparation, fuel strategy, and the driving decisions that determine whether your household reaches safety.
Utility Shutoffs
How to locate and operate gas, water, and electrical shutoffs before you need them in an emergency. Valve types, safety warnings, and the one thing to do this weekend.
Hazard-Specific Planning
Planning for the specific hazards that threaten your area. What distinguishes each hazard type, unique preparations, watch versus warning, and pre-decided action triggers.
Flood Preparedness for Home: A Calm, Specific Guide
Flood preparedness for households anywhere. The insurance gap, turn around don
Water Contamination: When Treatment Is Not Enough
Biological contamination is treatable. Chemical, industrial, and algal contamination often isn't. Know the difference - and what each treatment method can and cannot handle.