Heavy storms hit the Southeast United States on May 2, flooding parts of Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Georgia.

The floods prompted evacuations of hotels and nursing homes, stranded thousands from their homes, and led to interstate closures, according to news reports.

"A flood can be the most damaging of natural disasters, and result in economic loss, insured loss, and uninsured loss," noted Fletcher MacGregor, Global Natural Hazards and Emergency Response Practice Leader.

"The flooding in the South in recent weeks has been less predictable than we would have liked — and only brings to the forefront that, anywhere it can rain, it can also flood,"said Duncan Ellis, U.S. Property Practice Leader.

Businesses can obtain flood zone determinations as a tool to help understand their exposure and how their designation relates to coverage, sublimits, and deductibles that would apply at the time of a loss.

Ellis added, "From a capacity and pricing standpoint, this flood's impact on the marketplace has been minimal. Insurers continue to focus on high risk flood zones, as they have from some time now."

The development of flood emergency response procedures, with well-defined roles and responsibilities for key personnel — as well as regular training and exercise, especially in flood-prone areas — are critical risk management steps for protecting life and property, according to MacGregor.

Marsh's Flood Service Center can manage the process of zone determinations and the placement of National Flood Insurance Program policies, to minimize flood deductibles or provide coverage not available in the marketplace.