It is a good idea to get insurance coverage and make your home more resistant to flooding regardless of where you live because it could save you a lot of money in the long run.

If you live in an area that is prone to flooding, here are four steps you can take to protect yourself: 1. Be aware of the possibility of flooding and know your risk. 2. Have an evacuation plan and know how to get to safety quickly. 3. Stay alert for flood warnings and be prepared to evacuate if necessary. 4. Stay away from floodwaters, which can be dangerous and contain pollutants.

Step 1: Measure your level of risk 

There is a wide range of flood risk levels across different regions. Areas with high population density or that are situated near rivers, dams, or mountains are especially vulnerable. Knowing the level of risk in your area can help you determine what precautions you need to take to keep yourself and your property safe.

Evaluate the risk of flooding in your home

If you live in an area that is prone to flooding, it is important to take measures to protect your home. The first step is to determine your flood risk. The FEMA Flood Map Service can help you to do this by showing you general flood risk by region. To get specific information for your region, you can enter your address in the search bar, or click “Search All Products” and select your state, county, and community. This will give you reports of your region’s flood history.

The flood maps include a number of zone markings that indicate the flood risk of a region and its relevant structures, such as bridges, dams, and levees. Some of the zones are:

• Blue Zones: These are the 1% annual-chance zones. FEMA blue zones are likely to face significant flooding at least once every 100 years. Although 1% may seem like a minimal figure, FEMA still considers this to be a high-risk designation, so you should take adequate steps to flood-proof your home.
• Orange Zones: These are 0.2% annual-chance zones. FEMA states that orange zones are likely to face significant flooding at least once every 500 years. Since these regions face lower flooding risk than blue zones, your flood insurance rates will likely be lower. However, you should still make sure your house is not at risk of flooding due to leaks, or excessive surface runoff after rainstorms.
• Yellow Zones: These are areas of undetermined flood risk. If you live or are looking to buy property in a yellow zone, we recommend researching the area’s flood history. Ask neighbors what kind of flooding they’ve seen over the course of their time there, and make certain with your appraiser or flood insurance agent that the property is built to withstand any likely flooding.
• Blue with Red Stripes: These are regulatory floodways. These zones often include a river and its surrounding floodplain and are usually kept clear in order to allow water to drain from adjacent flood zones. However, some houses are built in or near regulatory floodways. If this is the case for your home, take extensive precautions to protect the home from flooding.

Be mindful of the year that a map was made when you are looking at maps of your area. Some maps are very outdated and the risk of flooding in your area might be different than what is shown on the map.

Afterwards, speak with your flood insurance agent or claim’s adjustor to establish the flood level associated with your house. The flood level is the elevation to which flood waters could ascend during severe weather. If possible, it is best if your home is above this level to safeguard it from potential flood damage. If your house is situated in a valley, for example, it is possible that the flood level is higher than a neighbor’s house that is on higher ground, since more water could flow towards your home.

The next time there is significant rain or snowmelt, take note of whether the water is flowing towards or away from your house, as well as any doors or windows that it pools around. This will help you understand the overall risk of flooding and identify specific areas that might benefit from dry-proofing techniques.

Flooding is not covered by a standard homeowner’s insurance policy. You can get flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program or from your homeowner’s insurance company as an addition to your policy.

Step 2: Insure your property

If you want to be covered for damage caused by a flood, you will need to buy flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) administered by FEMA. Most homeowner’s and renters’ policies don’t include this coverage.

The damage that floods can cause to your home can be expensive, and if you don’t have flood insurance, it can be even more costly. For example, if you have a 2,500 square foot, 2-story house, a 4-foot flood can cause more than $100,000 in water damage. FEMA disaster assistance usually only gives $5,000 in grants for each household, which is not enough to cover the cost of water damage. That’s why it is critical to have your home covered with flood insurance before a disaster.

The National Flood Insurance Act requires homeowners in high-risk flood areas to purchase flood insurance. Even if you don’t live in a high-risk area, experts say it’s a good idea to get flood insurance to protect your home. FEMA says that 40% of flood-related insurance claims come from communities that are not in high-risk flood zones. If you’re not sure if your area is at risk for flooding, you can get an elevation certificate that will show how likely your home is to be flooded.

It is best to buy flood insurance at least 30 days before a flood is most likely to occur. This is especially important to do during hurricane season. To sign up for a policy, you can call your insurance provider or an independent agent to purchase flood coverage. Another option is to use FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program provider locator to find a provider in your area.

Step 3: Prepare your home to resist flooding 

Homeowners should take measures to reduce the damage a flood will cause to their home, says Darren Craft, founder and president of Worth Insurance. He recommends all homeowners, even those in low-risk areas, take steps such as properly cleaning gutters and drains to ensure water can flow away from their home. Taking pictures of their home and valuables before flooding occurs is also encouraged.

Here are some of FEMA’s recommendations to protect your home from flooding: 

Outside the home

• Maintain proper water runoffs and drainage. Gutters, downspouts, and splash pads keep rainwater on your roof from flowing into your home. Be sure to keep runoff systems and drainages clean and properly operating.
• Install a rain barrel. A rain barrel collects rainwater from your roof. You can use the water in the barrel to water plants or wash your car. 
• Elevate utilities and service equipment. Elevating utilities and service equipment will prevent home damage and electrocution during a flood. Craft recommends raising electrical outlets, switches, and sockets at least 1 foot above the estimated flood elevation in your area. Craft also recommends raising outdoor equipment like air-conditioning units, and pool equipment above flood level. 
• Anchor outdoor fuel tanks. Fuel tanks, if carried by floodwaters can leave people, property, and the environment susceptible to injury and damage. Attach your outdoor fuel tank to a heavy item like a concrete slab so the tank stays in place.

Flood-proofing renovations

If you live in an area that is prone to flooding, you may need to do some work to make your home more resistant to flood damage. Here are some ways to protect your home against rising water.

• Raise your home on stilts or piers. While expensive to build retroactively, raising your house on stilts will raise your house’s flood level. Since even an inch of flood water can lead to significant damage, raising your home above the flood level will substantially protect your home.
• Install foundation vents or a sump pump. Foundation vents, a form of “wet flood-proofing,” allow water to flow through your home, rather than pool around it. This both provides an outlet for flood water and relieves the significant pressure it can put on your walls and basement windows. Sump pumps are frequently used to pump water out of basements where flooding happens regularly. We recommend a sump pump with a battery backup in case the power goes out.
• Apply coatings and sealants. A form of “dry flood-proofing,” coatings and sealants that you apply to your foundation, walls, windows, and doorways help prevent flood water from leaking into your house through cracks.
• Raise your electrical outlets and switches. All outlets, switches, sockets, and circuit breakers should be at least one foot above flood level to avoid significant electrical damage in the case of a flood.
• Install check valves on your pipes. Make sure that all pipes entering your house have valves to prevent a flooded sewage system from backing up into your home. Gate valves are preferred over flap valves since they provide a better seal against flood pressure.
• Grade your lawn away from the house. If your lawn tilts toward your house, rainwater will pool around your home. Use heavy soil that contains clay and sand to regrade your lawn so that surface runoff empties into an appropriate place, such as a street gutter.
• Leave space between mulch and siding. Wet mulch can rot your house’s siding, which in turn can lead to leaks. Keep space between your mulch and siding so that the base of your house can completely dry after rainstorms.
• Point your downspouts away from your home. If your gutter runoff is not pointed away from your house in an appropriate direction, it can pool at the corners of your house and may eventually create leaks in your basement.

Aside from the aforementioned improvements, you can further safeguard your dwelling by raising your internal and external appliances above the flood level. Here are some appliances that should be elevated above flood level:

• Air conditioning units
• Generators
• Water heaters
• Washing machines
• Dryers

Inside the home

• Protect valuable items. Keep important documents and valuables in a watertight security deposit box above the anticipated flood elevation level. Take pictures of important household items and personal valuables, as well. 
• Install foundation vents or a sump pump. A sump pump transports water from your basement away from your home. Be sure to purchase a battery-operated backup sump pump in case of a power outage. 
• Apply sealants or coatings to your home’s foundation and basement walls. Seal any cracks and gaps where water could seep into your home’s foundation. Also, coat the walls in your basement with a waterproofing compound to keep water from seeping through. 
• Prevent sewer backups. Install drain plugs in your basement floor drain or install sewer backwater valves for all pipes entering your home. These devices prevent contaminated water from entering your home through toilets, sinks, and other drains. 

Step 4: Stay safe during and after flooding

Preparation before a flood is key to minimizing damage to your home and preventing harm to you and your family. Here are some things to keep in mind during and after a flood: 

During a flood

Do not attempt to walk through swift-moving water. If you are in an area that is at risk for a flash flood, evacuate immediately if possible. Listen to your local radio or NOAA weather radio for updates on the situation. If a flash flood warning is issued for your area, move to higher ground immediately. If you are already in the water and it begins to rise above your feet or move quickly, stop and turn around. Do not try to walk through swiftly moving water.

If you are living in a high-risk area for floods, Craft suggests that you have an evacuation plan in place. If you need to leave your home, be sure to turn off the electricity at the breaker panel to avoid water damage. For those living in areas with a lower risk of flooding, Craft says it is still a good idea to anticipate power outages and have several days of food and water supplies on hand.

If your car gets trapped while you are evacuating, you should stay inside. If you need to, you can go to the roof of your car. If you need medical attention, you should stay where you are and call 9-1-1. You should then listen for further instruction.

After a flood

If you want to know what the weather is going to be like, you should either turn on the NOAA weather radio or your local radio station. If there is a lot of flooding, do not try to drive through it because you could lose control of your car. Just six inches of rushing water is enough to do that.

When working around electricity, be aware of the dangers of electrocution. If you are wet or standing in water, do not touch any electrical outlets or plugs. Also, avoid traveling on water if possible. Floodwaters may contain sewage, oil, and other dangerous debris, so it is important to sanitize anything that might be contaminated. Always wear appropriate hazard attire, such as work gloves, protective clothing, and boots, as well as a face mask, when cleaning up any contaminated areas.

Take preventive steps when flooding starts

If a storm is imminent, or flooding has already started, follow these steps to minimize flooding and water damage to your property:

• Turn off the water line, if that is the source of the flooding.
• Clear out gutters and drains so that water can flow freely.
• Use sandbags to block any gaps that will lead to flooding.
• Move rugs, furniture, electronics, and other valuables to a higher floor of the home, or elevate them.
• Shut off your electricity at the breaker panel, if flood water is close to reaching your electrical system.
• If it’s not raining, open windows to allow airflow through your home.
• Turn on your sump pump or use a shop vacuum to remove water as quickly as possible.
• Photograph or videotape any flooding to document and defend your claim with your flood insurance provider.