Preparing for a flood
Preparing for a flood involves creating an emergency plan, assembling an emergency kit, and implementing preventive measures to minimize losses. Determining the need for flood insurance is essential as it covers damages not included in standard policies.
Everyone is at risk for a flood, with 99% of U.S. counties experiencing one since 1998. Despite this, flood preparation can significantly reduce your risk. Most floods occur outside of mapped flood zones, and 25% of claims are filed from outside high-risk areas. Knowledge and preparation can minimize your risk.
Who Needs Flood Insurance?
Standard home and renters insurance does not cover flood damage. Flood insurance is crucial for protecting your home, personal belongings, and other structures. Both renters and condo owners should consider flood preparation and insurance, as building policies do not cover personal property. Private flood insurance policies may offer additional living expenses coverage, making them a valuable part of your flood preparation strategy.
Understanding Flood Policies for Effective Preparation
With a mix of private and federally funded options, understanding your coverage is a key part of flood preparation. Policies from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and private insurers vary, with some offering excess insurance for comprehensive flood preparation. Most policies include a waiting period, highlighting the importance of timely action in your flood preparation plans.
Vehicles aren’t covered under flood insurance. You’ll need a comprehensive auto policy for that.
Pro tip: Some insurers provide excess insurance to extend coverage beyond an NFIP policy. They’re also a form of private flood insurance, but they can get pricey and are usually geared toward high-net-worth homes. The benefit of using an excess policy in combination with your NFIP policy is your federally guaranteed rate.
Most policies have a waiting period before coverage starts, so don’t delay. Your insurance agent can advise you and help you obtain a policy that suits your needs.
Types of Flooding and Flood Preparation Measures
Floods are unpredictable and can happen for any reason, at any time. Flood insurance applies in many situations, including the following:
- Flash Flooding: Occurs when intense rainfall happens in a short period, usually less than a few hours. Flash floods can transform streets and walkways into raging rivers, sweeping away cars, trees, debris, and mud. (Pro tip: Mudslides, typically triggered by flash flooding, also necessitate flood insurance coverage for damage.)
- Coastal Flooding: Arises when offshore storm systems push ocean water inland beyond the usual tide levels. Hurricanes, typhoons, tsunamis, and unusually high tides are common culprits. The rapid rise in water, known as a storm surge, can happen within minutes, making flood insurance coverage crucial.
- River and Stream Flooding: Results from heavy rains, melting snow, storm surges, and the failure of dams and levees. This type of flooding highlights the importance of securing flood insurance coverage to protect against the potential damage.
- Closed-Basin Flooding: Occurs in areas where a lake lacks an outlet or has one too small to effectively drain the accumulated water. Seasonal rains and snowmelts can cause the lake’s level to rise more quickly than it can drain, leading to water overflowing into nearby properties, which is a scenario where flood insurance coverage is indispensable.
If you’re uncertain about your home’s flood risk rating, it’s crucial to find out. Consult FEMA’s revised Risk Rating 2.0 flood maps or speak with your insurance agent for assistance in understanding your need for flood insurance coverage.
Protect Your Property and Belongings
Independent of your home’s flood risk rating, taking steps to safeguard your property can complement your flood insurance coverage. These measures include elevating electrical systems, installing backflow valves, and using landscaping to fight erosion, all aimed at reducing the risk and impact of flood damage.
Regardless of your home’s flood rating, you should safeguard your property and belongings. Try these tips:
- Protect in-home electrical and climate systems. Homes have many electrical components, including switches, sockets and circuit breakers. This wiring should be at least a foot above the expected flood level in your area.
- Elevate outdoor equipment. Take inventory of outdoor electrical equipment and create a plan to elevate it. This equipment may include fuel tanks, air conditioning units and generators.
- Modify water valves. Install back ow valves or sump pumps to minimize the risk of sewage backing up into your home.
- Inspect the perimeter. Walkways, dirt and rocks can shift over time, misdirecting water toward your home. Routinely inspect the outside and correct any issues.
- Clean gutters, downspouts and drains. Keeping drainage systems clear will help direct water away from your home.
- Elevate storage items. Install shelves to elevate your stored items. If you use a storage locker, put things in watertight bins. Place a waterproof tarp over the stack in case water leaks from above.
- Fight soil erosion using landscaping. Plants soak up excess water and help keep topsoil in place. Use plants with dense root systems to help prevent soil erosion. Plant options include ajuga, creeping phlox, marigolds, creeping juniper and sedge grass.
- Create barriers. When a flood is imminent, use sandbags to redirect water away from your home and block water from entering openings.
Safeguard Essential Documents and Needs
Most people think about property damage during a food. But you must also consider other risks, like damage to essential and hard-to-replace items. FEMA recommends keeping essentials in a grab-and-go bag if you need to leave in a hurry. Examples include:
- Prescriptions — Gather essential medicines, medical equipment, batteries, eyeglasses, hearing aids and other necessary medical items.
- Critical documents — Assemble hard and electronic copies of birth certificates, Social Security cards, passports and other crucial documents. Organize your information into a digital wallet or secure cloud storage.
- Personal needs — Gather food, water, first-aid kits, cash and phone chargers.
- Priceless items — Place irreplaceable mementos and other valuables like photo albums and keepsakes out of reach of floodwaters. Use waterproof plastic bags.
- Pets — Have a plan for your pets, including food, medications, identification tags and immunization records. Pack an extra leash and collar (even if they usually don’t wear one) so you can safely remove your pet no matter where you are. Research pet-friendly establishments beforehand so you’ll know where to go in an emergency.
- Home inventory — Create and store a home inventory online. Include pictures, receipts and warranty information for your belongings. If you submit a claim, you’ll need proof you owned these things.
Visit the Department of Homeland Security for more tips on how to build your emergency kit.
Secure Your Flood Insurance Coverage Today
Given the unpredictability of floods and the waiting periods associated with most flood insurance policies, securing your flood insurance coverage well in advance is wise. An insurance agent can guide you through selecting flood insurance coverage that meets your specific needs, ensuring you’re prepared for any event.
