Early weather forecasts show a likelihood of increased flooding in parts of the United States. And already, there are several hurricanes predicted for Southern states, including Florida and the Carolinas. In short, homeowners should brace themselves for a wet summer, including potential flooding.
“Being proactive can help you prepare for a flood and prevent damages before they occur,” says Courtney Klosterman, home insights expert with Hippo Home Insurance.
Experts say there are ways to protect your home from the damage caused by heavy rains and flooding, and they begin with prevention.
How to Tell If Your Home Is at Risk for Flooding
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) says rain is coming in June. There is a high chance for a wetter-than-average month in the Pacific Northwest, parts of the Southern Plains, and the Southeast.
In general, though, summer flooding and rains are common in many parts of the country, including Florida, where hurricane season begins June 1 and lasts through November.
“There’s a good FEMA slogan that says ‘Anywhere it rains, it can flood,’” says Leslie Chapman-Henderson, president and CEO of the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes Inc. (FLASH). “The good news is there are things you can do about it.”
FLASH is a national nonprofit aimed at protecting homes and safeguarding families through education. To protect against floods, they suggest starting with an assessment of your home’s risk.
Evaluate Your Home’s Location, Drainage, and Runoff
“When it comes to flooding it’s pretty basic,” Chapman-Henderson says. “Look at your community in terms of its proximity to water bodies and history of flooding. Even within a community, if your home’s elevation is sufficient, your risk goes way down.”
“What I tell people is go outside and study your water flow,” she says. Grab your umbrella, because it’s best to do this when the weather is bad.
“During rainfalls, homeowners should evaluate how water runoff and drainage are occurring around the property and falling off the home itself,” says agent Karen Kostiw of Coldwell Banker Warburg. “Is water jumping the leaders or gutters? Determine if any walls, floors, or foundation feel damp or display cracks or stains. Is water puddling on the property?”
If you’re worried about your home’s risk, you can call a civil engineer who can assess your property professionally, Kostiw adds. “Before you find yourself in a position where you need to consider how to keep floodwater out of your house, check with FEMA to find out if the location of your home is a high-risk area for flooding,” Klosterman says.
You can do that by looking at FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center. Klosterman suggests checking it once every five years.
How to Protect Your Home from Flooding
Once you know which pain points are affecting your home, you can address them. Here’s a look at the most common ways you can protect your home against floods.
1. Redirect Water from Your Home
To start, make sure the draining around your home is working properly. Klosterman suggests cleaning your gutters at least twice a year: once in the spring and just before winter hits.
“Gutters are designed to guide rainwater off your roof and away from your home,” she says. “Clogged gutters allow water to collect on your roof and can cause structural damage, mold, and rotting. Being proactive with this easy task is one of the best flood control methods.”
Next, make sure your downspouts are pointing away from the home. “Your downspouts are the pipes that run vertically on the side of your home and pick up where your gutters leave off,” Klosterman adds. “If your downspout isn’t far enough from your house, water can leak back into your basement or cause foundation issues or mold growth.”
Ideally, downspouts should extend 5 to 10 feet from your home and should be installed for every 20 feet of gutters.
If you have ongoing drainage problems with your yard, consider a more permanent solution. “French drains, which involve digging a trench, lining it with gravel and stone, and burying pipes in the trench which slope downhill or away from the house, is very effective,” says broker Gerard Splendore of Coldwell Banker Warburg.
2. Improve Landscaping
You can also use landscaping to promote good drainage of the soil around your home.
“You probably already know low-lying spots and wet spots in your yard, but you can conquer water flow and direct it away from your home,” Chapman-Henderson says. “Landscaping berms and specific kinds of plants help. Talk to your local extension office about which kind. Do you have a lot of concrete? Can you augment it with pebbles?”
Klosterman says, in general, your lawn should slope away from the house. If this isn’t the case, you might consider having your lawn graded. Or else, you can redirect water with grass barriers.
Klosterman also suggests keeping a gap of about six inches between mulch flower beds and your home’s siding.
“To prevent water from pooling, dig a 6-inch trench in the space between your mulch and siding and fill it with rocks,” she says. “Your plant bed should be a few inches lower than the trench to protect from water runoff. These barriers help keep moisture in the mulch bed from wicking to your siding, which can lead to water damage like mold, mildew, and decay. In the event of a flood, these barriers can also add extra protection from water making it into your basement or crawl space.”
3. Ensure Proper Drainage Inside
You can and should try to prevent water from entering your home, but you should also prepare for the chance it will come inside.
If you have a basement, you might consider installing a sump pump. “Sump pumps will remove excess water if a flood does occur,” Splendor says.
Klosterman says to make sure the sump pump has a battery backup. She also suggests installing a smart backwater valve to prevent water from backing up into your home.
If your home has a history of flooding, Klosterman suggests having your basement waterproofed with a high-performance waterproofing compound and using tile instead of carpeting for flooring. “The right tile can be resistant to flooding, mold and/or mildew. It is also much easier to keep clean,” she says.
4. Use Smart Devices
There are also several ways to protect your home using smart technology to monitor for flooding. “Cameras, apps, AI, and sensors can detect leaks and other water issues,” Kostiw says.
Smart sensors on pipes, furnaces, and washing machines can turn these systems off in the event of a flood and notify you in case the appliances themselves are leaking.
Other devices, such as a check valve, also known as a non-return valve, can ensure that water only flows in only one direction through your pipes.
“When flooding occurs sewers can overfill, pushing water back through your plumbing system,” Klosterman says. “Installing this valve lets water pass through your pipes, but prevents it from flowing back up the pipes to a toilet or sink.”
In some cases, having smart home devices can help you save on your homeowner’s insurance premiums, Klosterman adds.
5. Get Insurance
If during your inspection of your property you learn you’re in a flood zone, make sure you’re protected. “Flooding is the most common disaster across America, and it isn’t covered under most homeowner’s insurance policies,” a FEMA spokesperson told BHG. “FEMA encourages everyone to: consider buying flood insurance, make a plan for your household in case of disaster, and know your risk.”
Flood insurance is required in certain flood zones, but can also be obtained even if you’re not in a high-risk zone. “Five inches of water can cause more than $45K damage in your home when you consider flooring and electrical and drywall,” says Leslie-Chapman, adding that the cost of flood insurance often pays for itself once you have a claim.
6. Protect Your Appliances
Some of the most expensive items in your home are appliances, but they can be protected with a bit of foresight.
“One reliable way to keep your appliances safe from flood damage is to keep them out of the water altogether,” Klosterman says. “Raise your appliances 2-3 feet off the ground so that in the event some water makes it into your home, you have a buffer zone.”
This is especially good for appliances in the basement, such as washers, dryers, and deep freezers. “Replacing your appliances can be costly if not covered under the common peril of flooding,” Klosterman adds.
7. Have a Safety Kit and a Plan Ready
There’s only so much you can do to prevent flooding on your property. The next step is to have a plan in place for braving a flood. This should include a written plan and checklist for valuables to remove from your home as well as items to protect.
“Create a list and that way you don’t forget,” Chapman-Henderson says. “It can be so stressful that at the last minute, you forget to do X, Y, or Z.”
If you know a flood is coming, Chapman-Henderson suggests moving valuables such as paper documents, sentimental belongings, photos, jewelry, and the like to the highest place in the home. Pick items off the floors and roll up your rugs to keep them dry. Next, make sure your appliances are unplugged to avoid short-circuiting them.
If you have sandbags, this is the time to place them around the home. Be sure to follow a guide for proper and effective placement.
If your cars are parked in a garage or driveway prone to flooding, see about moving them to higher ground. This is especially important for electric vehicles, including golf carts, Chapman-Henderson says.
In your flood kit, keep cleaning supplies such as bleach, mops, and buckets on hand. You might also include fans and extension cords.
For a full list of items to include in a flood kit, visit FEMA’s website.
Handling the Aftermath of a Flooded Home
If your home is damaged by flooding, you’ll want to mitigate the damage and get in touch with professionals for repairs and insurance claims.
“Document, document, document; take photos of every detail for insurance purposes,” Kostiw says. “Notify the insurance provider and understand the procedures to initiate a claim.”
Protect Yourself Against Future Floods
If you’ve experienced more than one flooding event, it could be time to make some more serious investments toward protecting your home. Klosterman suggests raising your electrical outlets, installing a proper drainage system in the yard, and even raising your home on stilts.
“The average cost to repair water damage to home electrical components ranges from $1,200 to $5,000,” Klosterman says. “Have all electrical components and wiring, including the fuse box, meters, circuit breaker, outlets, switches, and socket, raised by an extra 2-3 feet by an electrician.”
If you can afford it, you can raise your entire home on stilts to prevent electrical damage, drywall damage, and damage to your appliances.
“The cost to lift your house widely ranges from $10,000 to $100,000 depending on if you need to replace your foundation,” Klosterman says. “You’ll need a permit and to consult with structural engineers and contractors who specialize in raising houses to safely perform the lift. Hydraulic jacks are used and can slowly and evenly raise your house to prevent structural damage.” Homes that have been raised often qualify for reduced insurance premiums.
Perhaps one of the most effective long-term solutions is a drainage system. Klosterman suggests having trenches dug that are 1.5 feet deep and 1 foot wide, with drainage pipes covered in gravel. “As always, don’t forget to call 811 before you dig to keep yourself and underground utility lines safe,” she says.
