10 Great Flood Safety Tips and How to Make It Through
When people think of natural disasters, it is normal that what first comes to mind are tornados, hurricanes, and wildfires. Many don’t think of floods. Floods are among the most common natural disasters caused by hurricanes, rising storm surges, heavy rains, and thawing snow. Why don’t some take flooding seriously? Since flooding causes more damage and destruction than other serious weather events, it is time to take them more seriously. After all, only an inch of water in your home can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage that home insurance might not cover. Many don’t realize flood insurance is different than home insurance, and it is responsible for helping to repair or replace your home and belongings when flooding happens.
In this article, we will take a close look at ten of the most important safety tips to prepare you for flooding and staying safe.
1. Know If You Live in a Flood Zone
Before you purchase a home, especially in Florida, it is imperative to know if your prospective dream home is located within FEMA’s flood zone. You can check this out easily by utilizing the FEMA flood map.
2. Purchase Flood Insurance
If you find out that your home is located in an area that is medium to high risk for flooding, you should immediately purchase flood insurance. Home insurance will not protect you against flood damage, so homeowners need to invest in flood insurance, whether you are resident in a FEMA-designated flood zone or not. Flood Insurance doesn’t go into effect until 30 days after the date it was purchased, so it is important to invest in all the necessary coverage before the weather takes a turn for the worse.
3. Evacuate if It is Mandatory
If an evacuation order is in place for your neighborhood, you must evacuate immediately. Evacuation orders are in place to protect the public, and this means that first responders won’t be able to enter the evacuation area if a disaster occurs.
4. Invest in Supplies to Get You Through Safely
If evacuation is not mandatory and you opt to remain in your home, get enough supplies to keep you safe for a minimum of a week. This might mean stocking up on plenty of drinking water, as well as non-perishable food to last your whole family. Ensure that you have extra batteries, dry clothes, blankets, and medication stored in a location high enough that minor floodwater won’t reach. The best way to prevent flood water from entering your home is to purchase sandbags and place them in front of all exterior doors. The sand will absorb the water and ensure minor floodwater is kept at bay.
5. Remove Valuables to High Ground
Since flooding is so unpredictable, it is suggested that you remove valuable items to high ground. If your home has a second floor, you will want to move TVs, electronics, and anything else of value to you. If you reside in a single-story home, you can use the attic as a storage space.
6. Place Important Paperwork in a Waterproof Container
Keeping important documents like insurance, social security cards, and passports in a waterproof container will ensure they don’t suffer water damage, and it can save tons of time if flooding occurs within your home.
7. Clean Out Your Gutters
One of the best ways to ensure your home remains safe from water damage from the roof is to clean out your gutters beforehand. Gutters that get backed up and downspouts can cause damage during heavy rains. We recommend installing gutter guards to keep debris from clogging them.
8. Don’t Drive or Walk Through Floodwaters
If flooding occurs in your area, you must stay away from areas that might be underwater. Walking and driving through floodwater is very dangerous because it can be filled with dangerous debris or have electrical currents running through it due to downed powerlines in your area. The ground will more than likely be soft and soggy due to the excessive water, so roads might be washed out, or there are sinkholes under the flood water. The best way to stay safe from floodwaters is to avoid them.
9. Keep Off Bridges Over Bodies of Water
Bridges that cross running water or large bodies of water, no matter how high, should be avoided. You don’t know when an influx of water will rush over the bridge at any time, especially when debris from flooding causes makeshift dams upstream.
10. Go To the Highest Level of Your Home
If flooding occurs in your area, you and your family should move up to the highest level of your home. If you are in a first-floor apartment or condo, seek refuge on the highest floor. It is important to stay out of attics without windows to the outside. These can be dangerous if the floodwaters reach up and there are cut-off exits and oxygen.
Bottom Line
Stopping floodwaters from entering your home is tough to do, the most important thing to remember is how you can prepare and what to do during a flood. If you follow these ten safety tips to heart, you will have a far better chance of staying safe when a flood occurs. Homes in Florida are the front line to natural disasters, however, it doesn’t mean there aren’t highlights to living in the area. Trust the real estate professionals at Palm Beach Coastal Realty to guide you in finding and settling down in the home of your dreams in the many beautiful luxury waterfront neighborhoods that make up Palm Beach Gardens, FL, today.