Floods – They can happen anywhere!

August 12, 2015

Floods can happen anywhere, as witnessed on Highway 10 between Los Angeles, California and the Arizona border on July 19th.  As reported in the LA Times, a pit-sinkhole-bridge collapse was created when a creek in Desert Center between Coachella, California and Arizona’s border was overwhelmed by an unusual July flash flood storm.  Floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States.  Some floods develop slowly, while others such as flash floods, can develop in just a few minutes and without visible signs of rain. Additionally, floods can be local, impacting a neighborhood or community, or very large, affecting entire river basins and multiple states.

flood sinkhole

  • Flash floods can occur within a few minutes or hours of excessive rainfall, a dam or levee failure, or a sudden release of water held by an ice jam. Flash floods often have a dangerous wall of roaring water carrying rocks, mud and other debris.
  • Overland flooding, the most common type of flooding event as was the case mentioned in the above incident typically occurs when waterways such as rivers or streams overflow their banks as a result of rainwater or a possible levee breach and cause flooding in surrounding areas.
  • Flooding can also occur when rainfall or snowmelt exceeds the capacity of underground pipes, or the capacity of streets and drains designed to carry flood water away from urban areas.

Be aware of flood hazards regardless of where you live or work, but especially if you are in low-lying areas, near water, behind a levee, or downstream from a dam. Even very small streams, gullies, creeks, culverts, dry streambeds or low-lying ground that appear harmless in dry weather can flood.

When a Flood happens – Be Prepared

Two keys to flood safety are to prepare for the risks and to act on those preparations when alerted by emergency officials.  Whether you are an individual or a business, it is best to plan ahead for the event of a flood and determine what to do before, during and after a flood.  Most commercial and residential property policies exclude flood as a covered cause of loss. A separate policy must be purchased to protect you from resulting damage.  At the Armstrong Company Insurance Consultants we strive to educate our clients through risk assessments and mitigation methods such as; disaster preparedness, obtaining flood insurance, and remediation.  Contact us today!  We are here to work for you!

The Armstrong Company Insurance Consultants (License # 0440075)