How to Prepare for a Flood (Plus Safety Tips)

Jan 02, 2023
Author: Garrett Mitchell

How to Prepare for a Flood

Floods are highly dangerous and damaging events that can be caused by many natural events. Melting snow, hurricanes, or back-to-back days of heavy rains all have the potential to cause flooding. 

If you reside in a low-elevation area or high-risk flood zone, you may even be at risk of experiencing a “flash flood.” These events seemingly come out of nowhere and can wreck your homes and cars. Flash floods can also create dangerous conditions that put you and your loved ones at risk.

Since these events can happen just about anywhere, it is important that you know what to do in case of a flood. 

How Should You Prepare for a Flood?

Before focusing on what to do in flooding events, let’s explore a few ways you can proactively protect yourself from flood water. 

Don’t wait until the rain starts to fall to begin your prep work. Instead, make sure you’re ready by:

Getting the Right Insurance

Did you know that most standard homeowners insurance policies don’t include flood coverage? Assuming that yours does could leave you vulnerable should a flood impact your home.

Therefore, you should review your insurance policy to confirm you have coverage. If you don’t have flood insurance protection, it may be time to get a new policy or alter your existing one. 

Knowing Your Risk

Is your home located in a high-risk flood zone? If you are unsure, you can search your address on FEMA’s interactive map to find out.

Knowing whether you live or work in a flood-prone area is vital for your preparation efforts. If you live in a high-risk area, you will need to take a few extra steps to stay flood ready, such as keeping an emergency kit on hand year-round. 

Taking Stock of Your Home’s Contents

If you need to file a flood damage claim, you will be asked to list any high-priced items or valuables that were damaged during the event. It can be tough to remember what major items are in your home under normal conditions, much less after a flood has displaced you.

To make this process easier, create a detailed inventory of your home’s contents. Taking videos or photos will simplify the claims filing process. 

Safeguarding Key Documents 

Depending on the severity of a flood, there is a chance that key documents like insurance policies, birth certificates, and Social Security cards will be ruined. Take steps to keep the original copies of these documents safe.

The best approach is to store them in a safety deposit box. You can also purchase a watertight box or safe, but it may not hold up if exposed to water for a prolonged period. 

What to Do During Flood Events

Knowing how to prepare for a flood is important, but some floods can catch you by surprise and leave you with little time to get ready. That is why you need to know what to do in a flood, should you ever find yourself caught in one. 

Here are a few tips for staying safe both indoors and outdoors:

Riding Out a Flood Inside

Generally speaking, it is safer to ride out a flood inside your home — unless water levels begin to rise within it, of course. In order to stay safe indoors during a flood, you should:

  • Turn off the main breaker to your home (if recommended by local authorities)
  • Avoid drinking tap water (or boil it first)
  • Stay out of flood water 
  • Don’t use appliances that have been partially submerged 

Staying in place until flood waters subside is usually the best approach. This is because flood waters can hide hidden hazards, such as sharp objects, sewage, other contaminants, or exposed electrical lines. Dangerous animals can also lurk in flood waters. 

Staying Safe While Outdoors

There may be instances where you cannot make it home due to flooding. This is especially common during flash floods, as roads may suddenly become inaccessible. 

If you are stuck outdoors during a flood:

  • Don’t swim in, walk through, or drive in flood waters
  • If your car gets trapped in flood waters, get out and move to a higher elevation
  • Stay out of low areas like underpasses
  • Stay away from coastal areas like riverbanks, lake shores, or beaches 
  • Try to avoid coming into contact with flood waters

Additionally, get to a safe structure as soon as possible. A parking garage, multi-story building, or structure positioned on higher ground can provide protection during a flood. 

Flood Preparedness and Damage Mitigation

Proper flood preparedness will reduce the risk of damage and help minimize recovery costs. Some of the steps you can take to mitigate damage include:

  • Creating green space to assist with water retention (gardens, lawns, etc.)
  • Altering your landscaping to promote runoff
  • Keeping your gutters and downspouts clean
  • Ensuring that nearby storm drains are free from obstruction
  • Placing sandbags in front of doorways 

Additionally, you need to verify that you have the right flood insurance. While purchasing flood insurance will not prevent damage, it will cover most of your recovery expenses. 

Let RocketFlood Help You Prepare for a Flood 

Now that you know how to prepare for a flood, it’s time to get to work. While many tasks should be included on your flood preparation checklist, the first and most important is obtaining the right insurance coverage.

Preparing for floods by stacking up sandbags, turning off the power, and gathering emergency supplies will certainly help keep you and your loved ones safe. But having a good flood insurance policy will ensure you can rebuild once the flood waters recede. Even a few inches of water can cause significant damage to your home and vehicles. 

With that in mind, RocketFlood proudly provides comprehensive flood insurance policies designed to protect your home and its contents. Contact our team to obtain a quote or learn more about our services. 


About The Author

Garrett Mitchell is the visionary behind RocketMGA, a cutting-edge comparative rater platform for flood insurance. With a passion for innovation and a deep understanding of the insurance industry, Garrett has created a platform that is changing the game for insurance producers all over the USA. Under his leadership, RocketMGA has become a leader in the industry, offering insurance producers the fastest and most efficient way to quote flood insurance. Garrett's background in technology and insurance, combined with his drive for excellence, has made him a respected voice in the industry. Whether he's speaking at industry events or sharing his insights on the RocketMGA blog, Garrett is committed to making a difference in the lives of insurance producers and helping them achieve success. Get to know Garrett and the RocketMGA revolution today!

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