3 Questions To Ask About Flood Zones

5/12/2022 (Permalink)

3 Flood Zone Inquiry Questions

When large storms hit your area, you might hear neighbors talk about the different flood zones around you and how people are affected by them. If you have never been impacted by significant floods, you might be unsure what flood zones are. Here are three questions you should ask about flood zones.

1. What Is a Flood Zone?

FEMA has categorized different geographical areas of the country based on their chance of flooding and the severity of the flood. Some areas are low to moderate risk, with chances of a flood occurring every 100 to 500 years. Other areas are at higher risk, with the possibility of a flood happening anywhere from every year to every 30 years, depending on where your Valrico, FL, is located.

2. Is Your Home in a Zone?

The easiest way to know if your home is in a flood zone is to do a simple search online. Many websites have access to FEMA floodplain information and will tell you the chances that your home could flood.

If you don't feel that the floodplain map is correct for your home or surrounding area, you can reach out to FEMA and ask them to review your community. If the emergency organization finds that your home no longer fits the category they have you in, they will update their information.

3. How Do You Protect Your Home?

Living in a flood zone means that you should always be ready for the possibility of a flood every time a major storm hits. A mere half an inch of water on the floor of your home can cause catastrophic damage, so you never want to be without flood insurance.

You also want to research some flood restoration specialists in your area and keep their contact information on hand. If your home does get flooded, you'll want to contact them immediately to start the clean-up process.

Large storms might bring floods to your home, but understanding what a floodplain is and how to protect your home can take some of the fear out of a potentially scary situation.