Where I live floods are pretty common.
In the last decade there have been eight major floods, and a handful of smaller ones.
This is why I live in a stilt house, and most of my neighbors do, as well. Since I live so close to the river it was the only sensible way to live; A stilt property is exactly what it sounds like – a property set up on 20 foot high wooden stilts the size of telephone poles. This way when a flood hits my property remains safe (even if my car is screwed). Six months ago a major hurricane swept through the area, and I was trapped in my property by a flood for an entire week! I ran out of booze and cannabis on Day 2 of the flood, and by Day 3 I was going crazy. I swam over to the dock, where I untethered my skiff, and used it to paddle upriver and visit my cannabis dealer. There was no power or working wireless so I couldn’t call him, I just showed up in my boat and knocked on his 2nd-floor window! Gene has been my cannabis company for years. He was startled to see me at his window, however quickly invited me inside and offered me a dry change of clothes and a fat bowl of cannabis. My buddy and I sat for a few hours, talking about the floodwaters and smoking several different strains of cannabis. I could have stayed the night, however instead I bought some cannabis from Gene and then paddled back dwelling to take care of my cats.