Navigating the Waters of Flood Safety

5/14/2018 (Permalink)

Flooding photo courtesy of Wisconsin DHS

Spring showers can bring a lot more than flowers this time of year. Depending on where you live those showers can also bring floods.

And just because it’s never flooded where you live before does NOT mean it can’t or won’t happen in the future.

According to Ready Wisconsin, flood risk is based several factors. Those include:

• Rainfall
• River Flow
• Topography
• Flood-control measures
• Any changes due to building and development

So, depending on all of that, even if your property has been safe in the past, something could happen to put your home or business in danger of flooding.

FEMA advises buying flood insurance for just this reason. According to FEMA:

• One inch of water in a home can cause $25,000 worth of damage.
• Homeowners and renters insurance do not typically cover flooding.
• More than 20% of flood claims come from properties outside high-risk flood zones.

Ready Wisconsin says a typical flood insurance policy will cost you about $700 a year, but that will, of course, depend on your location and the risk for flooding.

Now that we’ve talked about insurance to protect your property, let’s talk about protecting yourself.

Please remember to be safe if flooding is in the forecast and you’re going to be out and about. According to the CDC, over half of all flood-related drownings happen as a result of vehicles being driven into flood waters. AND, the CDC says, the next most common reason for flood-related drownings is when people walk into or near flood waters.

The experts advise staying away from all kinds of flood waters and any barriers or signs warning about flooding. It’s not worth the risk.

According to Ready Wisconsin, as little as six inches of rushing water can knock over an adult, and as little as two feet of rushing water can sweep away a vehicle as large as a pickup truck or SUV.

So, remember, take care of yourself and your property when floods are in the forecast.

And, as always, if a flood should affect your home or business, we at SERVPRO of West Brown County can help in the recovery process. You can reach us at 920-434-8224.