Flood Preparedness · Free · Global
When the water
rises fast,
it's too late to plan.
Floods are the most common natural disaster worldwide — and the deadliest. Flash floods give you minutes, not hours. RallyPack helps families build a flood plan, track supplies, and stay safe — free and open source.
No account required for the quiz · Always free · Open source
Of moving water can knock an adult off their feet
Of water can carry away most vehicles — turn around, don't drown
Floods are the most common natural disaster worldwide
Plan for the minimum, not the promise of aid
Four things that decide how a disaster goes.
72 hours minimum
Assume your household is on its own for at least 72 hours — and build toward 7 to 14 days where wildfire, extreme heat, outages or remote access make that realistic. Help may be delayed, shelters may be full or distant, and normal services may be unavailable.
Year-round risk
Peak months are real, but dangerous conditions recur outside the historic season. Keep supplies, documents, contacts and animal plans current all year, and raise readiness when heat, drought, wind, holidays or utility shutoffs converge.
Three departure modes
Practise leaving in 15 minutes, leaving in one hour, and preparing for a 72-hour displacement — rather than one generic “pack the car” plan.
Water is a dependency
Hydrants, wells and municipal supplies can fail or be strained exactly when a fire is unfolding, and drinking-water networks are not built to suppress a wildfire at community scale. Store, protect and conserve water in advance.
Emergency numbers by region
Know the number before you need it.
Americas
High-risk areas:
Gulf Coast · Mississippi Basin · Appalachia · Central America · Brazil
Flash floods kill more Americans than tornadoes or hurricanes. NOAA issues flood watches and warnings. Never drive through flooded roads — 15 cm of water can sweep a car away.
Europe & Australia
High-risk areas:
Germany · France · UK · Spain · Australia · New Zealand
European Flood Awareness System (EFAS) monitors river flooding. Australia's Bureau of Meteorology issues flood warnings. Turn around — don't drown.
The six things that save lives
What your flood plan needs to cover.
Know Your Flood Zone
FEMA flood maps, local council data, and river gauge alerts tell you if your home is in a 100-year or 500-year floodplain. Check before storm season.
Elevate Critical Items
Move valuables, documents, and electrical panels above expected flood level. Keep irreplaceable items on upper floors or in waterproof containers.
Water: 4 Liters Per Person/Day
Floodwater contaminates municipal supply. Store sealed water and know how to purify water by boiling or using tablets. Fill containers before a storm arrives.
Documents in Waterproof Bag
Insurance policies, IDs, medical records sealed in a waterproof container. Photograph your home and belongings for insurance claims before flooding occurs.
Two Escape Routes on High Ground
Floods close low-lying roads. Map two routes that stay above the flood line. A 15 cm depth can knock you off your feet; 60 cm can sweep away a vehicle.
Never Walk, Swim, or Drive in Floodwater
Floodwater hides downed power lines, open manholes, and debris. More than half of flood deaths happen in vehicles. Turn around — don't drown.
Looking ahead
This winter's flood signal.
Seasonal climate patterns — and the burn scars left by this year's wildfires — change where flood risk lands. Here's what the forecast points to, in the U.S. and worldwide.
RallyPack for organizations
Send emergency alerts to your community.
Fire departments, shelter operators, and community organizations use RallyPack to send real-time flood evacuation alerts and shelter-open notices to their members — via email, in-app, and Telegram, even when cell towers are overloaded.
Answers
Flood questions, answered.
- Should I drive through floodwater?
- No — turn around. As little as 30 cm of moving water can float a vehicle and sweep it off the road.
More detail
Floodwater hides washed-out roads, debris and live electrical hazards, and most flood deaths happen in vehicles. Find higher ground on foot only if you can do so safely.
- How quickly can a flash flood develop?
- In minutes — often with little or no visible rain where you are standing.
More detail
Flash flooding is driven by rainfall upstream, so a dry street can flood from a storm several kilometres away. Move to higher ground immediately when a warning is issued.
- Is flood damage covered by homeowners insurance?
- Usually not — flood damage generally requires a separate flood policy.
More detail
Check your coverage before you need it, and document your property with photos and receipts. Standard policies typically exclude rising water.
- What should I do before floodwater reaches my home?
- Move essentials and valuables above the expected water line, shut off utilities if instructed, and evacuate when told.
More detail
Take documents, medication, cash, phones and chargers with you, and never enter a flooded basement or a building surrounded by water.
Sources
Every figure and recommendation on this page traces back to the agency that produced it.
- FEMA — Flood zone mapping, evacuation and flood insurance guidance
- NOAA National Water Prediction Service — River forecasts and flood warnings
- USGS — Streamflow, flood frequency and water-level data
- American Red Cross — Flood preparedness and evacuation guidance
Flood readiness
Find out how ready you really are.
The free readiness quiz scores your plan in three minutes — no account required. Then see how your neighborhood compares on the RallyPack readiness map.
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