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"  The Threat: Floods cause an average $5 billion in losses and 100 fatalities yearly\u2014about 3800 towns are on floodplains Where: Mainly coastal states and the Mississippi Valley When: Spring and fall  Sump pumps are the best defense against minor flooding and chronically wet basements, but if a river is rising nearby or a coastal storm surge is imminent, the best advice is to move your valuables to a high floor, then evacuate. And if there are flash-flood warnings, be quick about it. These floods move fast and tend to carry mud, trees and other dangerous debris with them. If you&amp;#039;re in a flood zone\u2014check your address with the FEMA Map Service Center to find out\u2014plan an escape route ahead of time. And never drive through moving water; it can be a deathtrap. Almost 50 percent of flood fatalities are car-related. Don&amp;#039;t be lulled into a false sense of security by the term &amp;quot;100-year flood,&amp;quot; either. That doesn&amp;#039;t indicate that a flood will occur only once a century. What it really means is that every single year there&amp;#039;s a one-in-100 chance of that level of flooding. If you live in a flood zone, the U.S. Geological Survey estimates that you&amp;#039;ve got a one-in-two chance of experiencing a flood in your lifetime.   (Illustration by Merce Iglesias) "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.popularmechanics.com/adventure/outdoors/tips/a6191/how-to-prepare-your-home-for-floods/>