Floods are not only the most common natural disaster in the United States, they are also responsible for the most weather-related deaths—ahead of hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and all those other awe-inspiring natural disasters movies are made of. And in the past 10 years, floods have caused about $24 billion in property damage.
While coastal areas are traditional flood danger zones, inland communities are not immune. The important distinction here is preparedness: While homeowners in coastal communities, considered high-risk by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program, are required to purchase flood insurance, homeowners in low-to-moderate risk areas are not.
And therein lies the problem. Low-to-moderate risk, a piece of FEMA jargon that actually encompasses most of the country, sounds benign enough. Unfortunately, it espouses a false sense of safety. Consider that a quarter of National Flood Insurance Program claims are in the low-to-moderate risk category.
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According the FEMA, which maintains country-wide flood maps, much of Cockeysville is at least at low-to-moderate risk of flooding. In fact, many parts of Cockeysville are in proximity to a high-risk flood zone that centers on the area bordered by York Road, Wight Avenue, Beaver Dam Road and Cockeysville Road.
This high-risk flood zone, the result of low elevation and low stream capacity, extends in two directions. It meanders southwest and splits at the terminus of Warren Road, with one branch following Beaverdam Run westward and the other moving south, flowing just west of Beaver Dam Road and terminating between Padonia and Timonium Roads.
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It also continues to the northwest along the Oregon Branch and Western Run streams. These streams all run into the Loch Raven Reservoir, to our east.
Your choice to purchase flood insurance—if not mandated by the federal government—is ultimately dependent on your risk tolerance. But while your federal flood designation may be the same as the folks on Sherwood Hill, if you live or own a business near the high-risk flood zones in Cockeysville, your actual risk for sustaining flood damage is much higher.
Even if you decide against purchasing flood insurance, low-cost, practical steps will help prepare your home or business for a flood. In fact, the same three steps will help minimize the emotional and physical turmoil of almost any natural disaster:
- Prepare an emergency supply kit that includes water, flashlight, canned food, blanket and radio;
- Ensure that your family or your employees have an emergency evacuation plan;
- Store valuables and irreplaceable documents in a safe place, such as a waterproof safe, a higher elevation, or a bank deposit box.
When a flood occurs, I’ll assume that you know to go to higher ground. Still, do not attempt to traverse flooded areas, especially if the water is moving. FEMA says just 6 inches of moving water can cause you to lose your balance and fall, and a car can be swept away by less than 2 feet of water. Your local news service—or, if you no longer have access to radio or television, your local emergency responders—can help you determine if it’s safest to evacuate or take shelter where you are. Don’t hesitate to call 911 for instructions or help.
Floodsmart.gov, the National Flood Insurance Program website, can been a useful resource. If you’re thinking about buying a home or just curious about your flood risk, the interactive mapping system will give you access to the data you need.
