How to protect yourself in dangerous floods: Weather alerts, maps and more

Yahoo

11-07-2025

Deadly flooding in Texas, combined with the recent trauma from fatal Hurricane Helene flooding in East Tennessee, has prompted questions about warning signs during hazardous weather.
The Texas flooding has left over 100 people dead and many more missing. The September flooding from Helene resulted in the deaths of 250 people across the South. In East Tennessee, 18 people died in the floods caused by Helene.
Flash floods are the leading weather-related cause of death in the United States, the National Weather Service says.
Ahead of the arrival of severe weather and resulting floods, there are steps you can take to help protect yourself and your family.
Your phone should receive wireless emergency alerts, which are emergency messages sent by local, state and federal public safety agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission, the Department of Homeland Security and the National Weather Service.
You don't have to sign up for the Wireless Emergency Alert service as they are automatically sent.
To know if you receive emergency alerts, check with your wireless carrier.
Another way to stay informed is to follow your county's emergency management agency on social media, where they regularly post information about hazardous conditions.
For Knoxville and Knox County, follow the Knoxville-Knox County Emergency Management Agency Facebook page for regular updates.
The National Weather Service provides 24/7 coverage and updates on hazards affecting all 50 states, as well as regular weather updates at weather.gov. The East Tennessee office is in Morristown.
Experts often recommend buying a special weather radio, which is designed to receive certain emergency messages. They're available at a variety of online retailers and cost anywhere from $25 to over $100.
If you're curious about water levels along a specific body of water, check the National Water Prediction Service at water.noaa.gov. It shows anticipated water levels nationwide, including in East Tennessee.
The Tennessee Valley Authority advises that if you live in a flood-prone area, you should check your local news and weather channels for the latest information.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has flood maps on which you can simply input your address in the search bar. Check it at msc.fema.gov.
Part of TVA's mission is to prevent flooding in the Southeast. It manages the 652-mile Tennessee River with nine dams.
But its work has limitations. Water systems that TVA does not control, such as creeks and streams, are the ones most likely to flood, TVA spokesperson Scott Brooks said.
You can find a map of each facility and its controlled water systems on the TVA website at lakeinfo.tva.com. Click on the water body nearest you to learn more.
During Hurricane Helene, stretches of rivers that did not have dams were hit the hardest, such as the French Broad, Nolichucky and Pigeon rivers.
ArcGIS, a geographic information system, shows regions of East Tennessee and their flood potential. Some areas have higher chances of flooding than others, such as:
Boone Lake and South Fork Holston River near Johnson City
Douglas Lake near the Great Smoky Mountains
Hord Creek-Holston River and Bradley Creek-Holston River near Kingsport
Painter Spring Branch-South Fork Holston River in Sullivan County
Richland Creek-Nolichucky River in Greene County
Knox County does not have outdoor weather sirens, nor did the communities in central Texas where the deadly flooding occurred in early July.
Emergency management experts have advocated adding sirens for riverfronts that are known for flash floods.
The question of whether sirens are an effective way to raise the alarm for floods and other natural disasters is nuanced. They are predominantly used to alert people who are in immediate danger outdoors.
"Sirens are still the most effective method to warn the population at large in the shortest amount of time," the Boone County Office of Emergency Management in Missouri said.
Floods, especially flash floods, are particularly dangerous because water levels are unpredictable and can rise in unexpected ways.
Flash floods can occur in minutes during heavy rainfall, and they can be triggered by dam or levee breaks. Mountains and steep hills produce rapid runoff that, combined with saturated soil, are a recipe for disaster.
There are several ways a person can lose their life when caught in a flood:
Drowning is the leading cause of death in a flood. It only takes 6 inches of fast-moving water to knock down an adult, according to the National Weather Service. People often die in a flood when their car is swept away.
Debris can cause death or injury in floods.
Downed power lines can create an electrocution hazard.
Hypothermia can cause death if the temperature of the water and the environment are not sufficient to maintaining a person's body heat.
Contaminated water and pathogens can cause people to get sick, increase the risk of infections and be dangerous for those with compromised immune systems or people unable to get medical care.
Myron Thompson reports on public safety for Knox News. Email: [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: How to protect yourself in floods: Weather alerts, maps and more