Every year, countless people incur thousands of dollars of property damage caused by flooding. Floods are defined as water overflowing into an area that is normally dry. This may be just a few inches of standing water that subsides after a few hours or several feet of rushing water that lasts for many days.
Though some areas are more prone to them than others, floods can occur nearly anywhere under the right conditions. Some floods – known as flash floods – can occur in just a few minutes with little warning. Common causes include heavy rain and high waves, as well as rapidly melting snow. In some cases, flooding occurs when flood protections systems, such as dams and levees, fail.
Flood Dangers and Destruction
Floods are very dangerous and common in the U.S. Flood preparation is essential and highly recommended by the American Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Everyone should have an emergency plan for flooding, including the following steps:
- Identify flood zones near your home and workplace
- Install check valves that can prevent flood waters from entering through the drains in your home
- Store an emergency kit complete with water and supplies, such as a flashlight and radio.
- Never drive through rising waters – even if you drive a truck or SUV
Floods are also very costly. In fact, they are solely responsible for more than $5 billion of damage every year.
Unfortunately, many people are financially unprepared for a flood. Even a ‘small’ flood can be quite costly, requiring clean-up, mold remediation, new flooring and new sheetrock. Even furniture may need to be replaced after flood waters enter a home. For a standard 2,000 square foot home, just one inch of flood water could result in more than $20,000 in repairs.
It is also important that homeowners purchase flood insurance, as standard homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage. Our insurance specialist can help you identify your home’s flood risk factors and make a plan of financial preparedness. Whether you’ve experienced a flood disaster in the past or you live in a low-risk area that has never flooded before, we can help you find coverage you need.
The information in this article was obtained from various sources. This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements, nor is it intended to replace manuals or instructions provided by the manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional. The definitions, terms and coverage in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.
