It’s raining, it’s pouring – and now it’s flooding! Oh no, now what? We needed the rain, but we weren’t expecting the flooding. Being an El Nino season makes the rain especially heavy this year.
Did you know that flooding is the most common natural disaster? According to the National Flood Insurance Program, it caused 2.7 billion in losses between 2001 and 2010. YIKES! Floods are serious business.
Here are a few tips to protect your home against flooding:
– Make sure you have Flood Insurance
If you just bought a home and live in a high-risk area, chances are you didn’t have a choice when it comes to purchasing flood insurance, but just because you don’t live in a high-risk area – doesn’t mean flooding won’t be coming to you. Did you know that 20% of flood claims come from places where the flood risk is low? The cost of flood insurance is low compared to what it may cost in the long run – it’s an El Nino Season – better safe than sorry.
– Fix Leaks ASAP
We know we like to mention this a lot, but it’s because people neglect it a lot. If you see a small leak – it could be hardly noticeable – fix it ASAP. It’s easy for a small leak to transition to a more significant leak, leading to a large-scale water loss – don’t let this easy fix happen to you.
– Invest in high-quality roof protection
Many people opt out of investing in high-quality roof protection because they’re already shelling out the cash on the project. Still, the reality is that funding now to install better underlayment, a waterproof barrier, etc., can end up saving you thousands of dollars in the long run. It’s worth it to consider it.
– Battery-powered sump-pump
We hope you’ve got a good sump pump! It’s a great idea to invest in a battery-powered one that can function when the power is out. Who wouldn’t want an effective way to pump water out of your home?
– Check Valves
Consider installing check valves to help prevent water from entering your house during heavy rain or flooding. A check valve allows things to flow only in one direction, so it will help eliminate extra water from coming in.
These are just a few tips we have for protecting your home against flooding! It’s important to remember to be safe, have an updated inventory of your home, have an evacuation plan, and also have an emergency kit [ food, water, money, clothes, etc.] in case of an extreme emergency. Floods coverage requires special insurance, so make sure to check with an insurance agent today if you’re concerned about flooding in your home or business.
