Except for heat related fatalities, more deaths occur from
flooding than any other hazard. Why? Most people fail to realize
the power of water. For example, six inches of fast-moving flood
water can knock you off your feet. While the number of
fatalities can vary dramatically with weather conditions from
year to year, the national 30-year average for flood deaths is
127. That compares with a 30-year average of 73 deaths for
lightning, 68 for tornadoes and 16 for hurricanes. National
Weather Service data also shows: - Nearly half of all flash
flood fatalities are vehicle-related, - The majority of victims
are males, and - Flood deaths affect all age groups. Flood
Safety Book (pdf)Most flash floods are caused by slow moving
thunderstorms, thunderstorms that move repeatedly over the same
area or heavy rains from tropical storms and hurricanes. These
floods can develop within minutes or hours depending on the
intensity and duration of the rain, the topography, soil
conditions and ground cover. Flash floods can ro