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Flood facts
According to FEMA, flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States. Between 1996 and 2019, 99% of US counties were impacted by a flooding event.
Flood facts
© shaunl / Getty Images
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    Definition

    Flooding is an overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry from:
    Heavy rains
    Storm surge coming on shore
    Snow melting quickly
    Dams or levees break
    Atmospheric rivers

    Drivers of flood losses

    1
    Increasing frequency and severity of extreme rain events
    2
    Population and economic growth in disaster-prone areas
    3
    Rising sea levels
    4
    Aging infrastructure, such as dams and levees
    $16.9 bn
    in structural damage and 4 million lost days of operation for businesses by 2052¹
    22%
    of homeowners surveyed perceived they are at risk for flood, yet anywhere it rains it can flood.

    Ten ways businessowners and homeowners can reduce flood damage

    Discover ten essential strategies tailored for both businessowners and homeowners to effectively mitigate flood damage risks. From preventive measures to actionable plans, this guide offers valuable insights to safeguard your property and assets against the devastating impact of flooding.

    1. Materials

    2. Barriers

    3. Grading

    4. Electrical

    5. Fuel tanks

    Use water damage-resistant building materials
    Build barriers, such as floodwalls and levees
    Maintain proper water runoff and grading
    Elevate utilities and electrical systems
    Anchor fuel tanks

    6. Foundation

    7. Sump pump

    8. Sewers

    9. Gutters

    10. Furniture

    Seal foundation and basement walls
    Install a water alarm and sump pump
    Prevent sewer backups
    Clear any debris from gutters and downspouts 
    Move furniture and valuables to a safe place

    Munich Re US flood solutions

    FloodscapeTM

    A tool based on Munich Re's hydrological expertise that allows the visualization and quantification of flood risk based on riverflow upstream and downstream correlations through 40,000+ unique national flood scenarios.

    Inland Flood endorsement

    Our turnkey Inland Flood endorsements offer affordable flood insurance that can easily be added onto existing personal lines policies in low-to-moderate risk areas.

    Source:

    1Smith, Zachary Snowdon. 2021. Floods will cost US businesses $49 billion next year, study says. Forbes. December 12. Retrieved from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacharysmith/2021/12/16/floods-will-cost-us-businesses-49-billion-next-year-study-says/

    Munich Re US flood experts
    Serena Garrahan
    Serena Garrahan (Flood)
    Inland Flood Product Manager
    Munich Re US
    Jay Rosario
    Jay Rosario
    Head of Digital Solutions
    Munich Re US
    Raghuveer Vinukollu
    Raghuveer Vinukollu (Resilience/Mitigation)
    Head of Climate Insights & Advisory
    Munich Re US

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