Flood Images: A Powerful Reminder of the Need for Flood Insurance

The Impact of Flooding on Communities

Social media often serves as a reminder of significant events from the past. Recently, I was reminded of the devastating flooding in Ellicott City, Maryland, which occurred three years ago this week. This event resonated with me because I had friends living there, and I lived in a similarly flood-prone town. The images from Ellicott City recalled the damage much closer to home, in Bound Brook, New Jersey, when Tropical Storm Floyd dropped over 13 inches of rain and the Raritan River crested at above 42 feet, inundating the downtown and sparking fires as electrical systems shorted out.

The Role of Flood Insurance in Disaster Recovery

My little town of Dunellen had dodged a major bullet, I realized as I watched on TV as firefighters in boats responded to the devastation next door. Our basement, turned temporarily into an indoor swimming pool, seemed a minor inconvenience next to the losses in Bound Brook and elsewhere. A few years later, my region would be visited by similarly shocking images in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy.

The Importance of a Resilience Mindset

We've written a lot about flood risk, the flood protection gap, and the need for a resilience mindset to prevent damages and loss wherever possible and help families, businesses, and communities bounce back from unavoidable disasters. But sometimes a few images can persuade more eloquently and effectively than all the words in the world. According to the National Flood Insurance Program, only about 41% of Americans have flood insurance, despite the fact that floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States. This highlights the importance of raising awareness about flood insurance and the need for a resilience mindset.

In conclusion, it is crucial for individuals and communities to understand the risks associated with flooding and to take proactive measures to protect themselves. This includes purchasing flood insurance and implementing flood mitigation strategies. By doing so, we can help to minimize the impact of flooding and ensure that communities are better prepared to recover from such events.