Learn About Flooding Preparation and Safety

Understanding Flood Risk in Your Area

Flooding is one of the most common natural disasters in the United States. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), floods cause more than $7 billion in damage annually across the country. Understanding whether your area faces flood risk is the first step in preparing your household and property.

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Flood risk varies greatly depending on geography, weather patterns, and local infrastructure. Some areas face danger from rivers overflowing their banks during heavy rainfall or spring snowmelt. Coastal regions contend with storm surge and high tides during hurricanes and nor'easters. Urban areas with aging drainage systems may experience "flash flooding" when streets become rivers within minutes. Low-lying areas near streams, wetlands, or in valleys naturally collect water during heavy precipitation.

To understand your specific flood risk, you can visit the FEMA flood map website, which shows detailed flood zones for communities nationwide. These maps categorize areas as high-risk, moderate-risk, or low-risk based on historical data and environmental factors. Many local emergency management offices also maintain flood hazard maps specific to your city or county. If you live in a mapped high-risk flood zone, your mortgage lender typically requires flood insurance. Even if you're in a lower-risk zone, flooding can still occur—about 25% of flood insurance claims come from moderate and low-risk areas.

Practical takeaway: Locate your property on your local flood map by contacting your city or county emergency management office, or searching FEMA's online mapping tool. Write down your flood zone designation and keep this information with your emergency documents. If you're uncertain about your risk level, assume a conservative position and prepare as if flooding could affect your area.

Creating a Household Flood Preparedness Plan

A household flood preparedness plan outlines what your family will do before, during, and after a flood. This plan reduces panic, ensures everyone knows their responsibilities, and increases the likelihood that you'll protect yourselves and your property. Studies show that families with emergency plans are more likely to respond safely during actual events and recover more quickly afterward.

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Your preparedness plan should begin with identifying multiple evacuation routes from your home. Know at least two ways to leave your neighborhood by car and on foot. Identify the location of your community's emergency shelters—many towns maintain lists on their websites. If you have family members with mobility challenges, medical equipment needs, or pets, research facilities that can accommodate these requirements in advance. The American Red Cross maintains a shelter locator tool online where you can search for pet-friendly and accessible shelters in your area.

Next, establish a communication plan for your household. Decide on an out-of-state contact person whom all family members will call if you're separated during an evacuation. This person should not be in the affected area and should be reachable by phone or email. Program this contact's information into everyone's phones. Discuss where you'll meet if you become separated and cannot reach each other by phone. Create a written copy of your plan and keep it in your emergency supply kit, your vehicle, and with your out-of-state contact.

Your plan should also address your valuables and important documents. Identify which irreplaceable items you would take if you had to evacuate quickly—family photos, birth certificates, deeds, insurance policies, medical records. Store copies of important documents in a waterproof container or in a cloud-based storage system. Consider taking photos or videos of your home's contents and storing these records outside your home; this documentation helps with insurance claims after flooding occurs. Discuss with your family who would be responsible for gathering pets, medications, and these important items during an evacuation.

Practical takeaway: Write down your evacuation routes, shelter locations, and out-of-state contact information. Share this information with every household member and update it annually. Test your plan by doing a practice evacuation—this helps identify problems before an actual flood threatens.

Assembling Flood Emergency Supplies

Having appropriate supplies on hand means your family can shelter in place safely if evacuation is not necessary, or support yourselves during and after evacuation. Proper supplies also reduce your dependence on emergency services, allowing responders to focus on people in greater danger. The Red Cross recommends maintaining emergency supplies year-round, with particular attention paid to these supplies before flood season begins in your region.

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Water is the most critical supply—you need one gallon per person per day for at least three days for drinking and sanitation. For a family of four, this means storing a minimum of 12 gallons. Store water in food-grade containers in a cool, dark location; replace stored water every six months. Alternatively, you can purchase commercially bottled water, which has a longer shelf life. If you live in an area with regular flooding risk, consider storing supplies for seven days instead of three.

Non-perishable food should require no cooking, refrigeration, or water for preparation, since utilities may be unavailable after flooding. Stock items like canned vegetables, fruits, beans, peanut butter, crackers, granola bars, nuts, dried fruit, and powdered milk. Include a manual can opener in your kit. Store enough food to provide each person with 2,000 calories daily for at least three days. Rotate stock regularly so nothing expires. Include baby formula and food, pet food, and any special dietary items your family members require.

A comprehensive emergency kit should contain the following items: a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, a flashlight with extra batteries, a first-aid kit with prescription medications (keep a 30-day supply of all medications in your emergency kit), important documents in a waterproof container, cash in small bills, a battery-powered or hand-crank phone charger, sturdy shoes and work gloves, sleeping bags or blankets, a change of clothes and sturdy shoes for each family member, hygiene items and sanitation supplies, copies of insurance policies, bank account records, and medical information. Consider adding specialized items like oxygen tanks, mobility aids, or service animal food if needed by household members.

Practical takeaway: Assemble your emergency kit in a sturdy plastic storage container that you can grab quickly if you need to evacuate. Keep this kit in an accessible but safe location—not in an attic or basement where flooding might reach it. Refresh the kit twice yearly, checking expiration dates on food and medications, and testing batteries.

Protecting Your Property Before Flooding Occurs

Taking steps to reduce flood damage to your property protects your family's safety, reduces financial loss, and helps your household recover more quickly after a flood event. Property protection measures range from simple, low-cost actions that any homeowner can take, to more substantial improvements that may require professional contractors. According to the National Institute of Building Sciences, every dollar spent on mitigation saves six dollars in future disaster recovery costs.

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Start with exterior maintenance that prevents water from accumulating near your home. Keep gutters and downspouts clean so water drains properly and does not pool at your foundation. Extend downspouts at least six feet from your house so that roof runoff carries water away from the building. Clear storm drains and culverts near your property to ensure water flows freely. Grade your yard so water slopes away from your house rather than toward it—this may require adding soil or rerouting drainage paths. Remove leaves and debris from gutters seasonally, particularly in fall and spring when heavy rains often occur.

If you have a basement or crawl space, seal cracks in the foundation walls and floors with hydraulic cement or waterproof sealant. Install or upgrade sump pumps and ensure they work properly by testing them regularly. Connect sump pump discharge lines away from your foundation. Consider installing a backup power source for your sump pump—batteries that operate without electricity ensure continued protection during power outages that often accompany storms.

For homes in flood-prone areas, more substantial measures may offer significant protection. Wet floodproofing allows controlled water entry into a space designed to withstand it—this approach is suitable for areas expecting shallow, brief flooding. Dry floodproofing seals a structure against water entry using waterproof coatings, shields, and barriers—this works better for areas with deeper or longer-duration flooding. Elevating your home above the base flood elevation is the most effective protection but requires significant investment. Some homeowners install backflow preventers in their plumbing to stop sewage backup when municipal systems are overwhelmed. Consult with contractors experienced in flood mitigation to determine which approaches suit your property and local conditions.

Practical takeaway: Before flood season, walk around your property and identify areas where water currently pools or where drainage seems inadequate. Address obvious issues