Question 1 of 15
How much moving water can knock an adult off their feet?
Why: Six inches of fast-moving water is enough. Most flood deaths happen to people who underestimated this.
Question 2 of 15
Roughly how much water can float a typical car?
Why: About a foot of water floats many vehicles, and two feet will carry away most cars and SUVs.
Question 3 of 15
What does the phrase 'Turn Around, Don't Drown' address?
Why: More than half of US flood fatalities are vehicle-related, which is why this NWS campaign exists.
Question 4 of 15
What does a '100-year flood' actually mean?
Why: It is a probability, not a schedule. Two can occur in consecutive years without contradiction.
Question 5 of 15
What is storm surge?
Why: Surge is historically the deadliest hurricane hazard, capable of raising sea level many feet in hours.
Question 6 of 15
Does a standard homeowners insurance policy cover flood damage?
Why: Flood insurance is separate, usually through the National Flood Insurance Program, and typically has a 30-day waiting period.
Question 7 of 15
What is a flash flood?
Why: Flash floods rise fast and give little warning, which makes them the most lethal flood type.
Question 8 of 15
What is an atmospheric river?
Why: These plumes deliver much of the US West Coast's rain, and strong ones cause major flooding.
Question 9 of 15
Why does urban development worsen flooding?
Why: Impervious surfaces convert rainfall directly into fast runoff instead of letting soil absorb it.
Question 10 of 15
Which US flood disaster in 1889 killed over 2,200 people?
Why: A dam failure above Johnstown, Pennsylvania sent a wall of water into the town with almost no warning.
Question 11 of 15
What is the difference between a flood watch and a flood warning?
Why: The watch and warning distinction works the same way across almost all NWS hazard products.
Question 12 of 15
Which natural disaster is the most common worldwide?
Why: Floods affect more people globally each year than any other natural hazard.
Question 13 of 15
Why is nighttime flash flooding especially dangerous?
Why: Reduced visibility and delayed awareness sharply raise the death toll from overnight events.
Question 14 of 15
What is a levee designed to do?
Why: Levees reduce risk but do not eliminate it, and can fail catastrophically if overtopped.
Question 15 of 15
What causes ice jam flooding?
Why: Ice jams can raise water levels upstream very quickly, then release suddenly when the jam breaks.