spring thaw... I live near the St. Lawrence ... it flows into the Atlantic. And there are several rivers that are feeders. I've only been flooded once, more than 10 years ago.
Floods aren't fun. I tried it once. At the peak spot there was 15 inches of rain in 6 hours. Where I was, was only about 10 inches, still 240 people killed locally. Lots of damage.
Flash flood, no real staying away. I got stranded but then the house that I was headed too, well all that was ever found of it was part of a wall hung up in a tree a distance away from where the house used to be.