43 feet

Level to which the Red River around Fargo, North Dakota, is expected to rise today, resulting in flooding that could force 30,000 people to evacuate their homes. If the river reaches that level, it will be the highest in 112 years. The federal government has declared 34 counties and two Native American reservations as well as parts of neighboring Minnesota disaster areas. Visit the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services for more details on the situation.

There's no way to predict natural disasters, but you can find out just how prone an area or a specific property is to flooding. Do an assessment on FloodSmart.gov, the official site of the National Flood Insurance Program. After you fill out the address information in the "One-Step Flood Risk Profile," you'll get the level of risk, which is determined by the location of a property on the local flood map.

To see the most up-to-date maps, go to the town clerk’s office or the local government department that handles floodplain management. You can also access flood maps at FEMA's Map Service Center, but you have to pay for those.

Essential information: Get more details on flood insurance and premiums.