Wildfires can last months and burn thousands of acres before being contained. Your home does not have to be directly in the path of the blaze to be affected. Particulate matter, smoke and ash can travel great distances and creep into the tiniest of cracks leading into your home. Wildfires pose additional risks. They strip hillsides of vegetation that helps hold soil in place. When wildfires are followed by heavy rain, mudslides can occur. This powerful flow of mud, rock and debris can cause catastrophic damage to homes in its path.

Mudslides, landslides and debris flows can develop quickly when precipitation is excessive. They can strike fast, without warning, turning the landscape into a river of mud, when a majority of victims are often asleep. They can travel for miles and can be powerful enough to carry trees, boulders, cars and even homes in their path. They can happen in all U.S. states and territories and are more common in mountain, canyon and coastal regions.