Flash Flooding: What You Need To Know

6/14/2022 (Permalink)

Flash flooding can happen within moments; stay alert.

Summers in the south are known for a few things, including severe weather. One of the things we need to watch out for is flash flooding. According to weather.gov, flash floods are the #1 weather-related killer in the United States. Flash flooding happens when the intensity and duration of rainfall are too much for the soil or topography to handle. It can occur within minutes or hours after a rain event. Most flash flooding is caused by slow-moving thunderstorms or “training storms,” which are repeated areas of rain, typically associated with thunderstorms that move over the same region in a relatively short period of time.

Flood Alerts From The National Weather Service

• Flood Advisory means be aware.
• Flood Watch means be prepared as conditions are favorable to flooding.
  *If these are upgraded to a warning, you must take action immediately.
• Flash Flood Warning is even more imminent-this sudden violent flood can take just minutes to develop.
• Flash Flood Emergency is rarer. This is only used for the severe threat to human life or catastrophic flooding event.

Know your risks and have an emergency plan in place. And if your home or business is damaged due to flood waters, call the experts at SERVPRO of Lexington/Thomasville at (336) 224-2465. Our team of experts offers 24-hour emergency services and is here to help.