JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – People watching images and video of major roads and neighborhoods in Houston flooded from the rains of Hurricane Harvey may be wondering if their homes could be inundated by high water if a major hurricane struck northeast Florida.
Several of the deaths reported in Texas so far resulted from flooding, which is the No. 1 killer during hurricanes.
While living along a body of water should alert you to danger, major flooding events could spread water miles from the nearest river or stream, which is why officials urge residents to "Know Your Zone." Emergency management officials said its information that could save lives.
Homeowners like Yasmina Barakat don't know their flooding potential.
"I have no idea," said Barakat, who lives on the Southside.
Flood maps of Jacksonville and surrounding counties show the extent of potential flooding, and Duval County and Florida emergency management websites have tools to allow homeowners to find their flood zone by address.
KNOW YOUR ZONE: Jacksonville | All Florida counties
Those along the ocean, Intracoastal Waterway, St. Johns River and its tributaries are in red zones and would be evacuated first. Those in the orange zone would be second to be asked to leave, likely for any landfalling hurricane or tropical storm. Then comes orange, green, purple, then pink. Property shown in white are not in any type of flood zone.
Jacksonville officials urge all homeowners to visit the city's website to learn their flood risk -- something that frustrated people when thousands tried to find it in 24 hours that Hurricane Matthew was approaching last October. The city's website couldn't handle that level of digital traffic -- something officials believe has been addressed.
But to be safe, people check now, before a storm threatens.