Flooding In Your Forecast? Here’s How To Prepare Your Home

Whether or not you live in a flood-prone area, if there is flooding in your forecast, you definitely want to take the right precautions to ensure that your home, your belongings, and your entire family, including your pets, will be as safe and as dry as possible. A lot of people, though, do not know how to properly prepare their homes for a flood and mitigate some of the damage, and this is very unfortunate. If you are one of these people, continue reading for some important tips that you can definitely implement the next time flooding is likely to take place in your area.

First Off, Purchase Flood Insurance

If you live in an area that is prone to flooding, the first thing you need to do to prepare is purchase a flood insurance plan because most homeowner’s insurance plans will not cover losses caused by flooding. Have this plan in place ahead of time so you can rest assured your damages will be covered.

Turn Off Electricity, Gas, and Water

If necessary, you may need to turn off your electricity, gas, and water until the storm has passed. You may be required to do so or you may decide that it is a good step to take if your home has flooded in the past. This can prevent damage that can be caused when electrical units are struck by water, it can prevent gas leaks, and it can prevent you from using and consuming contaminated water.

Set Up a Sump Pump and Clear Your Gutters

A sump pump that is set up in your basement is a great way to keep pumping water out of your home as it comes in. But make sure that you have a battery-operated backup ready to go in case your electricity turns off.

Make sure your gutters are cleared of debris as well so that the water can more easily and quickly flow off of your roof, preventing damage there.

Move Important and Valuable Items to Higher Ground

If you have to, pack up your valuables, lock them up in secure safes, and take them to a friend or family member’s home outside of the expected flood area in order to keep them safe. Another option would be to store them in a public storage facility that you know will be safe and that has floors that are well above the level that the floodwaters will reach. If you have a high enough home, though, just move your items to higher ground, such as into your attic. This will reduce the risk of them being damaged. And remember, any items that do get damaged may be restored. For example, restoring paper documents is entirely possible if you go to the right professionals.

Knowing what steps to take to properly prepare your home for a flood can reduce a lot of the damage that you will incur. From storing important items on higher ground to setting up a sump pump, these are just a few of the many steps you can take to secure your home as best as possible.

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•  License: Creative Commons image source
•  License: Creative Commons image source
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•  License: Royalty Free  
  
•  License: Royalty Free  
  

The author of this article, Jim Walters, works for Steamatic, a reputed restoration firm. He enjoys his work and is an expert in restoring paper documents. Jim likes to write for his blogs in his spare time.