One month before the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Black residents across southern Louisiana braced for their first tropical disturbance of hurricane season. The storm threatened to bring flash flooding across the coast from Mississippi to the center of Louisiana. Thousands of residents stocked up with drinking water and sandbags in preparation for imminent power outages.
They were far from the only Americans experiencing the impacts of potentially catastrophic rains.
In a historic surge that’s being felt in cities and towns across the country, this year, the United States has experienced more flash flood warnings than at any time since records began in 1986, according to the National Weather Service.
July has been exceptionally wet — and deadly. There have been more than 1,200 reports of severe flooding in the first two weeks of this month, more than double the average amount, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration records show. The floodwaters have led to more than 135 deaths in Texas and North Carolina, although the true number may rise as recovery continues and missing persons are accounted for.
Due to long-standing patterns of discrimination and inequitable infrastructure, Black communities in the U.S. are at greater risk from flooding events, both now and in the future.
In the South, where about 60% of Black people live, Black folks are nearly two times more likely than others in the region to experience severe flooding events, partly because many Black neighborhoods are located in low-lying, flood-prone areas. Within the next 30 years, communities with large Black populations, particularly along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts from Texas to Virginia, are projected to see their flood risk rise by at least 20% and potentially as much as 40%, a rate twice as fast as non-Black areas.
“When you think of climate threats, we’re the ones who are often on the front lines of it,” said Gloria Walton, the president of the Solutions Project, an organization focused on supporting local community groups focused on climate activism. During Hurricane Katrina, her family’s home in Jackson, Mississippi, was flooded, and the resulting toxic mold forced her mother to sell the house after she was unable to afford the necessary repairs. Two decades later, her mother has not been able to purchase another home, which made it particularly clear for her that “Black communities are often hit hardest by climate disasters and are the last to recover.”
“There’s so much fear and mayhem being sown, and climate change will make these events worse,” she added.
How floods happen
Flash floods typically happen in the middle of summer when the weather is hottest, but warmer air caused by climate change can hold more moisture, fueling heavier downpours and making flash flooding more likely and intense.
This year, the risk is even higher because the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico are warmer than usual, adding even more moisture to the air.
A recent study found that human-driven climate change has already increased storm-related rainfall by nearly 20% in the southern United States, making flooding events like those experienced this July more frequent and severe.
To prepare for climate threats and flooding, Black communities need to continue building strong local networks and invest in resilience now, rather than waiting for outside help, Walton said.
“We have to show up for each other during these times, because weather conditions are getting worse and resources are getting gutted, leaving vulnerable communities that are already at risk, more at risk.”
This means supporting existing grassroots organizations, establishing resilience hubs, and creating mutual aid networks that not only respond to disasters, but actively fortify neighborhoods ahead of crises, she said. Building these connections and local infrastructures ensures that when extreme weather hits, the community is “always ready.”
“These threats are not something of the future. It is happening now,” she said.
How to prepare for flash floods
Create a family emergency plan
- Know evacuation routes, designate meeting spots, and ensure all family members (including pets) know what to do and where to go in case of flooding or evacuation orders.
Build and maintain an emergency supply kit
- Stock up on non-perishable food, water (at least 1 gallon per person per day for several days), medications, flashlights, batteries, and first aid supplies.
Monitor weather alerts and heed warnings
- Sign up for local emergency alerts via your city or county website, watch NOAA’s Weather Radio stream, and promptly follow evacuation or shelter-in-place instructions from authorities.
Protect important documents and valuables
- Store critical papers (such as identification, insurance, and medical records) in waterproof containers and keep digital copies stored securely.
Prepare your home and mitigate flood risks
- Clean gutters, secure outdoor furniture, trim trees, install storm shutters or board up windows, and, in the long term, consider flood insurance. If you live in high-risk areas, elevate your electronics and use sump pumps or backflow valves.