Posted: March 29th, 2006, 9:14am PST
Across the United States each year many lives are taken or put at risk by flooding. In every state or territory floods destroy property costing billions of dollars annually. NOAA National Weather Service storm data show that on average floods kill more people every year than lightning, tornadoes and hurricanes. In 2005, inland flooding from hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused an extraordinary loss of life and property damage.