How to Prep for a Flood to Minimize Damage to Your Home
Use this comprehensive guide with expert recommendations to help protect your home from costly flood damage.
Whether you live in a flood zone or are anticipating severe weather, knowing the protective measures you can take to minimize potential water damage is crucial. Flooding can come from various sources, whether it's heavy rain, water runoff, rising lakes and rivers, tsunamis, or hurricanes. "According to FEMA, a quarter of all flood claims occur outside of high-risk flood zones, indicating that nearly everyone is at risk of flooding," explains Pete Piotrowski, Chief Claim Officer at Hippo home insurance.
To protect your property from costly water damage, regular maintenance of drainage systems, sealing holes that water can seep through, and installing preventative devices is key. Additionally, purchasing sandbags in advance, moving valuables off the floor, assembling an emergency kit, creating a communication plan for your family members, and checking what is covered under your homeowner's insurance policy is essential. To help you protect your home and belongings, we've created this comprehensive guide for how to prepare for a flood with expert advice from Piotrowski and Thumbtack’s home care expert Aldo Ceja.
Preventative Measures to Protect Your Property
"Regardless of whether your home’s flood risk is low or high, it’s crucial to take preventative action to protect your home and property," Piotrowski says. This means ensuring that water flows away from any potential entry points in order to prevent damage. Here are some specific ways you can protect your property.
Maintain yard drainage systems. "Regularly inspect and clean yard drainage systems to ensure they function properly," Piotrowski advises.
Install check valves to prevent floodwater from backing up your home's drains.
Use sandbags. "If you suspect water might enter your basement through ground-level or subterranean windows or doors, place sandbags around these areas for added protection," Piotrowski suggests.
Clear city water drains. Piotrowski explains that a home near a city water drain likely sits in a low-lying area. "Ensure these drains are clear of debris, such as leaves, to allow proper water flow," he says.
How to Reduce the Risk of Flood Damage to Your Property
Take the following measures to help reduce the risk of flood damage to your property.
Tackle Projects In Advance
If your home is in an area that could potentially flood, take care of any potential issues before they arise. "I recommend that homeowners look to tackle projects that can save their homes in a flood emergency," Ceja says. When it comes to the specific types of projects that can reduce the risk of flood damage, consider both indoor and outdoor elements. "This can include installing sump pumps and flood vents, improving drainage, and designing landscaping with flood control in mind," Ceja says.
Purchase Sandbags and Tarps
Planning ahead and stocking up on supplies that help reduce the risk of flood damage is key, especially if you live in a flood zone. Piotrowski recommends purchasing and storing sandbags and tarps so you're prepared in the case that your area begins to flood. "These materials are in high demand ahead of a storm, making it difficult to find them at the last minute, so plan ahead by purchasing them in advance to help protect your home from water damage and high winds," he advises.
Caulk Gaps Around Doors and Windows
Caulking is inexpensive and worth the effort to prevent costly property damage that water can cause. "A quick solution for how to prevent flood damage is to caulk the gaps around your windows and doors," Piotrowski says. He recommends looking for spaces or uneven areas that water can seep through and adding silicone caulking on the edges of window frames to seal the gaps. "Caulking does wear down over time so it is a best practice to inspect and re-caulk regularly," he warns.
Install Preventative Devices
One of the main problems in a flood is that small issues can turn into bigger problems, which is where Piotrowski says installing preventative devices can help. "A check valve, also known as a non-return valve, is a small device installed on your pipes to ensure water flows in only one direction," he explains. Flooding can cause sewers to overfill, pushing water back through your plumbing system. "Installing this valve lets water pass through your pipes, but prevents it from flowing back up the pipes to a toilet or sink," Piotrowski says.
Add Extra Space Between Siding and Mulch
When you're doing your landscaping, don't forget to leave the recommended gap of at least six inches between the mulch and your siding. "To prevent water from pooling, dig a 6-inch trench in the space between your mulch and siding and fill it with rocks," Piotrowski says. As for plant beds, he advises that they should be a couple of inches lower than the trench to protect them from runoff. The reason for the gap between the mulch and the siding is that if wet mulch sticks to your home's exterior, it can lead to water damage such as mold, mildew, and decay. "In the event of a flood, these barriers can also help add extra protection from water making it into your basement or crawl space," he adds.
Get a Smart Home Device
"Consider installing a smart home device that can detect water and gas leaks," suggests Piotrowski. There are many different kinds available, ranging in sophistication and price, and Piotrowski shares that installing one may even help you save on your homeowners insurance premiums.
Make an Emergency Plan
Creating a plan before flooding occurs will help you stay calm and take proper action once the rain or water arrives.
Make an Emergency Kit
Assembling an emergency kit that includes essential supplies is crucial in preparation for a potential flood event. "Include water, non-perishable food, medications, a flashlight, batteries, a first-aid kit, and important documents such as passports, insurance papers, and medical records in a waterproof container," Piotrowski says.
Plan a Communication Strategy
Communication can get tricky during an emergency situation such as a flood, so plan how you will communicate with family members and come up with designated meeting points on higher ground, ensuring everyone is aware of them and has a way to access them. "Make sure everyone is familiar with the evacuation plan and understands the steps to take if a flood occurs," Piotrowski says.
Take a Video of Your Home
Part of your emergency plan should include taking a video of each room in your home to document the property and your belongings for your insurance company should you need to show them in the case of flood damage. "It’s one of the best ways to help you determine whether you have enough coverage to replace them," Piotrowski says. He recommends going from room to room in your home and taking note of major items in each room and doing your best to estimate their worth, or if you still have the receipts, record those. "That way, you’ll have an idea of what it’ll cost to replace your items and, if needed, you can chat with your insurance company about extending your coverage limits before disaster strikes," he says.
If You Have Time, Get These Items Off the Floor
If time allows (and if it is safe to do so), consider raising furniture, valuables, and electronics off the floor before flooding begins.
Furniture and Valuables
It is essential to get furniture and other valuables off the floor. "When possible, move all items to higher ground and use waterproof containers to store valuables," Ceja says.
Electronics and Extension Cords
"Water conducts electricity, so it’s very important to remove all electronics from the floor, including extension cords," Ceja explains. Additionally, Piotrowsi suggests checking with your local electrical company to find out the maximum height that electrical components can be raised. These include the fuse box, meters, circuit breaker, outlets, switches, and sockets. If you live in a flood prone area, he says, "it is recommended to have electrical components and wiring raised by an extra two to three feet by an electrician."
Appliances
Appliances can be a large financial investment, and one way to protect them from flood damage is to raise them so they don't come into contact with water. "Raise your appliances two to three feet off the ground so that in the event some water makes it into your home, you have a buffer zone," Piotrowski recommends. Because replacing appliances can be expensive if you're not covered under the common peril of flooding, he adds, "check your policy to see if your homeowners insurance covers water damage from flooding."
Electrical Outlets, Switches, and Sockets
As mentioned, electrical components and water do not mix. "Not only can that combination be harmful to humans, but the damage to your home’s electrical components can become a fire hazard and massive headache," Piotrowski says. Even if electrical outlets, switches, and sockets are only submerged for a brief moment, he explains that some or potentially all parts of the system may need to be replaced which can be shockingly expensive.
Important Documents
"Consider relocating your important documents," Ceja says. Having to replace travel documents, medical reports, insurance papers, and other important paperwork can be a huge hassle, so avoid the headache by storing them in waterproof containers and lifting them as high off the ground as possible.
Check Your Homeowners' Insurance Policy, and Update It If Needed
"Check your homeowners' insurance policy to see what perils your policy covers," Ceja advises. Flood coverage is typically not part of a standard homeowners' insurance policy and requires a separate policy, especially if your home is located in a flood zone. "Most policies explicitly exclude water-related damages, which typically include those caused by floods, groundwater, tsunamis, standing water, lake overflow, waves, tidal surges, and potentially drain or sewage backups," Piotrowski explains.
To avoid the unpleasant surprise of finding out you don't have the necessary coverage when filing a claim, both Ceja and Piotrowski strongly advise that you go through your home owners' insurance policy and find out what is covered, and add the necessary flood coverage if you're in a flood zone.