Flood water can quickly destroy your home and valuables. Sadly, this is happening to more and more homes across the country. Floods, defined as temporary water overflows onto land, are the most frequently occurring natural disaster in America. A flooded building has a variety of causes, including:
Storm surges
Dam overflows
Snow
Rain
Coastal storms
Besides causing water damage, floods can also lead to power outages and landslides. While some floods build up slowly over time, flash floods can occur quickly without warning.
You can’t prevent the major storms that often lead to floods. However, there are steps you can take to prepare your Winter Park, FL home.
Be Informed
It is much easier to prepare for a disaster when you know what is coming. Your community likely has a warning system that can notify you of impending flood water. If not, you can sign up for alerts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association Weather Radio or the Emergency Alert System. You should also check the FEMA website to see if your area is prone to flooding.
In addition, you need to be aware of potential signs that a flood is imminent. Heavy rain, in particular, could be a precursor to flooding.
Keep Assets Safe
Once you know that excess water is heading for your home, you can start to protect the items within your house. One easy way to do this is to purchase flood insurance. Most homeowners’ insurance policies do not include floods, but you can easily obtain flood coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program. You can use this insurance to pay for emergency restoration services.
Before the flood arrives, you should pay special attention to valuables. Put them in higher levels of your property. Any documents should be placed in waterproof containers, as well. If possible, create digital copies of these papers.
By understanding your home’s risk and securing the assets inside of it, you can protect your property from flood water. A little bit of preparation can go a long way.