Floods
Everything you need to prepare for a flood
Floods are among the leading causes of severe property damage. Even a minor flood can result in the destruction of the interior and exterior of your home. Flooding can also give rise to dangerous mold buildups that can lead to tens of thousands of dollars of in repair bills. If you live in a flood zone, what can you do to protect your home?
What are Floods and What Causes Them?
In a flood, excessive rain or runoff from lakes, streams and other bodies of water encroach upon dry land, resulting in anything from an inch of water that saturates and damages carpets, basements and landscaping to several feet of water or more that can completely submerge entire homes, destroying everything on a person’s property.
There are a number of answers to the question of what causes floods. Most commonly, severe storms and rain overwhelm a city’s water management strategies or breach the banks of local waterways. Other causes of floods include tidal waves, hurricanes, tropical storms, irrigation failure and dam or levee breakdowns. Depending on the area in which you live, your home may be vulnerable to coastal floods, river or lake floods, excess precipitation, or all three. In fact, few areas of the country are completely safe from flood damage, which is why it’s imperative to be prepared, even if there have been no recent floods in your area.
Flood Safety Tips
To make sure your home is protected, have it evaluated by a flood safety expert. These professionals can advise you on small changes you can make to your home and property that will guard against rising waters, even during major flash floods. Some of these inexpensive and easily implemented changes include sealing off areas of your basement and foundation, correcting gaps in walls, roof and support structures, and applying waterproof sealant to the exterior of your home.
Another question to investigate is whether to purchase flood insurance or generalized disaster insurance. Flood protection contracts offered by major insurance companies can pay for repair bills, mold removal, and temporary housing and living expenses. You may also receive reimbursement for damage to landscaping and property, vehicles and interior furnishings.
