Virginia Department of Conservation and RecreationAn official website of the Commonwealth of Virginia Here's how you knowAn official websiteHere's how you know
Virginia Department of Conservation and RecreationAn official website of the Commonwealth of Virginia Here's how you knowAn official websiteHere's how you know
Department of Conservation and Recreation
By Rebecca JonesPosted March 16, 2023
Spring rains are coming — and hurricane season is right around the corner. Flooding is the most common, and costly, natural disaster. And that means everyone is at risk.
Say this every time you open your umbrella: “Anywhere it can rain, it can flood.”
Spring is also traditionally a season of yard work and spring cleaning. So why not also take these five steps to make your home more flood-resilient, too? They only take a few minutes to an hour or two apiece. The result? Less damage — and more financial security — when the waters rise.
1. Learn about your home’s flood risk. It's as easy as typing your address. First, pull up the Virginia Flood Risk Information System and key in your address on the left-hand side. You’ll instantly get information on your home or business’s flood risk. You can find out if your property is located within a Special Flood Hazard Area and learn your area’s surface water elevation and flood depth.
VFRIS pulls together data from a variety of trusted sources including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Virginia Geographic Information System.
Need more guidance or just want to see how else you can nerd out with this cool tool? Check out this VFRIS factsheet and guide (PDF) to discover more of its capabilities.
2. Get flood insurance — and maybe a discount. We’re going to be blunt: Flood insurance is the only way to protect yourself against financial devastation from flood damage. FEMA estimates that just 1 inch of water in a home will cause about $25,000 in damages — and standard homeowner’s policies don’t cover losses or damage from floods.
The average cost of a residential flood insurance policy is about $700 per year.
If you assume disaster relief will cover your damages, don’t count on it. If there is a disaster declaration, the average payout is $4,000-$6,000 per household and often not paid for months.
By contrast, the average flood insurance payout is $30,000 per household and is usually distributed within weeks. Flood insurance is available to homeowners, renters and business owners.
You may qualify for a discount. See if your locality participates in the Community Rating System, a voluntary incentive program for areas whose floodplain management exceeds minimum requirements.
3. Store valuables the flood-smart way. Take a mental inventory right now of all the sentimental, valuable and essential paper items currently on your ground level or in your basement, downstairs rec room or cellar. Think photo albums, family ephemera, legal documents and paper-based collectibles like stamps, books, trading cards, etc.
They could be one flood away from turning into a stained, wrinkled, moldy mass.
Now block off an hour to place those items in sealed, waterproof containers and move them to higher ground. Find space on the highest floor of your home. If your entire dwelling is ground-level, place those containers on upper shelves for maximum protection.
You can now rest easy knowing that your valuables are safe. As a bonus, you have also made them much easier to transport next time you move.
4. Arm yourself with a caulk gun and a rain barrel. Let your home’s water-entry points know there’s a new sheriff in town.
Grab your caulking gun and inspect your home to detect where water might enter during heavy rains. Look for gaps or holes around window frames, doors, vents and anywhere pipes and wires enter the structure. Addressing leaks and sealing cracks can help minimize flood damage.
Extra credit: Also consider putting weather strips on doors that open to the outside. If installed correctly, those strips will form a watertight seal when the door is closed.
What’s not to love about a rain barrel? Connect them to your gutter downspouts to collect excess rainwater — and keep it from inundating your yard, home or foundation. Rain barrels can be attached long term or stored and installed in advance of heavy storms.
You can drain the collected water as needed from the spigot at the bottom of the barrel.
5. Secure that propane tank. Do you have heating, hot water, dryers, fireplaces, generators or pool heaters fueled by propane? Make sure the tank doesn’t go AWOL when the waters rise. Propane tanks can easily be dislodged by floodwaters and carried long distances. Because they store a compressed gas in an enclosed space, ruptured or impacted tanks can explode.
If your propane tank is not secured, contact the manufacturer, retailer and/or propane supplier for anchoring options. Don’t forget to take a picture of your propane tank manufacturer’s nameplate. It may come in handy if the tank is recovered after floating away.
And be sure to mark the tank with your name, address and phone number in case it’s carried away in a flood.
One more thing before you leave this page. Bookmark these websites for best practices and new info on flood resilience at home:
Categories
Dam Safety and Floodplains
Tags
flood control
