According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, flooding is the nation's most common natural disaster. Some floods develop slowly during an extended period of rain or in a warming trend following a heavy snow. Flash floods can occur quickly, without any visible sign of rain. Catastrophic floods are associated with burst dams and levees, hurricanes, storm surges, tsunamis, and earthquakes. This paper discusses: (1) What flooding can do; (2) How to prevent or mitigate flood damage; (3) How to prepare for and respond to flood emergencies; and (4) How to recover from a flood. Schools as Emergency Shelters are appended. (Contains 1 footnote and 16 resources.)