00:00In the same storm, one neighborhood floods, but another may stay dry.
00:04Your distance from the beach is only part of the story.
00:07Strong winds push seawater toward land.
00:10Curving shorelines and narrowing bays can funnel it higher,
00:14while a gently sloping seafloor can amplify storm surge.
00:18Then there's what stands in the water's way.
00:21Tall, healthy dunes help protect communities.
00:23Eroded dunes leave an easier path inland.
00:26And canals connected to the ocean can carry rising water deep into neighborhoods.
00:30Development matters, too.
00:32Paving over wetlands removes places for water to collect,
00:35while pavement keeps more of it above ground.
00:38Drains and pumps may help, but they have limits.
00:41High ocean levels can stop drains from emptying when they're needed most,
00:44and timing can make things worse.
00:47Surge arriving at high tide can push water even higher.
00:50Before the next storm, check your flood risk at evacuation zone.
00:53Know your elevation. Being farther from the beach doesn't necessarily mean being safer.
