Here in Hawaii, water is one of our greatest assets. But it can also quickly turn into one of our largest threats. In a blink of an eye, a flood can damage your home and put your family’s safety and health at risk.
When a flood is possible (or worse, happening), there’s no time to learn about the risks involved. That’s why we encourage you to take a few moments to learn important facts about floods. At the end of the article, we also provide some quality resources to help make sure you’re ready for anything that comes your way.
Important facts about floods and flash floods:
- Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States
- Flooding can happen in all 50 states
- There are numerous possible causes of flooding, including heavy rain, hurricanes, tropical storms, tsunamis, landslides overflowing rivers, broken dams, snow melting, and more
- On average, flooding causes $8 billion in damage a year
- In 2018, flash flooding damaged or destroyed 532 homes in Hawaii
- Nationally, floods cause an average of 82 deaths per year
- Land development (including homes and roads) are vulnerable to flooding since the terrain was changed and there’s less soil available to absorb the water
- If there are downed power lines, flood water can become an electro-shock hazard
- Flood water is often mixed with sewage and dangerous items, which is why you should avoid walking or swimming through a flood
- It only takes half a foot of moving water to knock over the average person
- A car can be swept away in two feet of moving water
- Most homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover flood damage. Instead, you should buy a separate flood insurance policy if you live in a flood zone.
- If your home is in a high-risk area, there’s a 25% chance you’ll experience flooding in a 30-year span
While we can’t always prevent floods here in Hawaii, we can all be prepared for them. One helpful resource is Ready.gov, which provides tips for how to prepare for and respond to a flood. You can also learn about flood insurance at FloodSmart.gov.
After a flood strikes, you’ll want to repair the damage to your home and get back to normal as quickly as possible. Hopefully, that will never happen. But if it does, you can trust the experts at Hawaii Restoration Services.
To learn about our restoration services, send us a message or call us 24/7 at (808) 468-7978.