When most of us hear the word “hurricane”, we think of extremely high winds buffeting the Florida coast, toppling trees, and tearing the roofs off buildings. Yet while high winds are most certainly a danger, where loss of life is concerned the most dangerous aspect of a hurricane is the threat of flooding.

In areas prone to hurricanes, building codes have evolved to the point that most structures, with the possible exception of mobile homes, will do just fine in the high winds. But flooding is something no building code can protect us from.

The vast amount of flooding during hurricanes is due to storm surge. With storm surge you have water levels at the coastline rising as the high winds push the water toward the shore. The increased volume of water combined with a shallow slope of the shoreline can cause huge amounts of water to surge inland and flood coastal areas. Storm surge during high tide makes flood damage even more likely.

Storm surge is the number one killer when it comes to hurricanes. So if you live in one of these storm surge areas, be prepared to evacuate on the word of local officials. Choose a destination outside the surge area at the house of a friend or family member, a hotel, or a public shelter.

Before you evacuate, gather important documents to take with you, and move anything else of value to the upper floors of the house. Be sure to turn off the electricity at the panel, turn off the gas service, and secure any items outdoors which could be carried away by the water.

Once the initial storm passes flooding will still likely be a problem for some time after. As you travel around the area you should never attempt to drive or walk through moving water, regardless of its speed. Water itself carries a lot of weight, making it rather easy to be swept away by a flow that may seem very insignificant. Add to that the possibility of debris under the surface, and you have a very dangerous situation.

If you live in a designated evacuation or flood zone, take the warnings of weather forecasters and local authorities seriously. Flooding is not the minor inconvenience many people perceive it to be. It can be devastating to personal property and deadly to human life. Heed the warnings and evacuate to higher ground whenever coastal flooding is possible.