Home flooding can be a severe safety hazard for both a neighbourhood and a person’s and family's well-being. In areas around the country and the world, flooding is a danger in many places from the mountains to the lower flatlands. Heavy rainfall, mudslides, clogged drainage systems, and heavy snow runoff can all cause unexpected flooding. Just a few inches of damaging water can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your property.

Each year, homes are damaged by small and large floods. You might also live in an area where your house needs to have a flood evacuation plan and preparedness kit. Flooding can lead to landslides, cracks in roadways, and other infrastructure, bridges being washed out, and many other hazards.

Floods can physically damage property and cause injuries and emotional distress. They can also contaminate well water, utilities, and even food if the water rises high enough. This preparedness guide was built to help you, a homeowner and a member of the town and community, be ready to handle and survive periodic floods. Daily, we hear about flooding somewhere in the area on TV, radio, or on the internet.

Since that information is true, flooding can occur anytime and anywhere here and around the world. Generally, flooding is due to something else being the main cause of rivers rising and spilling over their banks. This guide covers tips on flooding in your professional and personal life to keep you safe, healthy, and the world around you functioning.

In case of a water or flood emergency, remember that even indoor flooding creates electrical dangers and mould growth. Some common indoor water and dampness mould hazards include mould spore dispersion, damaged property, structural damage, human health problems, and creating a breeding ground for pests. Some common sources of indoor water accumulation are showers, plumbing leaks or overflow, central air conditioners, washing machines, hot water heaters, humidifiers, drips or leaks, sump pumps, and storm flooding to windows and doors.

Understanding the Risks and Causes of Home Flooding

Water damage to homes, also known as home flooding, is caused by various factors. The most common cause is heavy rainfall over a short period. Other natural causes include rapid snowmelt, as well as hurricanes that can cause storms with heavy rainfall. Home flooding can occur if storm drainage is poor. Urban development with large amounts of pavement can also slow the drainage of rainwater. The landscape of homes can be an important factor in home flooding. Each of these situations can cause different types of flooding because each has different causes.

Whether your home or an area you invest in, should take home flooding prevention seriously depends on the characteristic risks of the area and the risks it faces. Flood risks vary depending on the area and can even be high in areas designated as low flood risk. Understanding the risks with useful guides can help homeowners. Information includes a table listing the number of flooding events for each state and the cost of damage from those floods. Also conveniently accessible is a map that shows the location of the flooding and the frequency with which it occurs. With a better understanding of the risks faced by your home, you can better prepare it for the next flood.

Flooding risks at home can be categorized by geographical factors, causes, and severities. Identifying home flooding risks involves identifying natural and man-made factors such as rainfall frequency, drainage network efficiency, and location. Natural factors increase the frequency and size of drainage, as well as the risk of home flooding, while the latter greatly affects the capacity of the drainage network. There are three main types of home flooding.

Flash flooding usually comes from some cause identified by hydrologists, such as a rapidly melting snow basin, with the greatest intensity and shortest duration, followed by urban and small drainage basin flooding. Riverine floods can last a long time - from days to months. Factors causing flooding include topography, precipitation, drainage basin size, channel blockage, ice jams, and snowmelt. Coastal flooding is defined as the inundation of normally dry, low-lying coastal areas, including flooding in the back. Coastal flooding can occur quickly or slowly. It can also occur in a single event or over years. When the preparation for home flooding control does not seem to be worth it, the homeowner may not understand the types of home flooding risks their home might experience and may see a higher rate of flooding in their area.

Essential Steps for Flood Preparedness at Home

Several measures can be taken to prepare your home for a flood. First and foremost, create an emergency communication and escape plan so everyone in the home knows what actions to take and where to go if trapped inside due to flooding. Designate a safe room where necessary emergency supplies are stored and make sure all family members – including children – know where that room is located. Recognize the need to pursue situational awareness before an event and actively monitor weather forecasts. People who possess the information to stay safe are better able to take prompt action, and doing so is often the key to avoiding property damage or injury.

Check to determine if your home has vulnerabilities that require visual exams or alterations. If there is any portion of your home that is below the street or ground surface, it may be prone to basement flooding. Retrofit weak areas. Make any alterations, such as installing a battery-operated sump pump, sealing basement or crawl space walls with waterproof coatings or compounds, anchoring fuel tanks, and elevating the electrical system, necessary to withstand future floods. Begin by installing one-way valves in sewer lines to halt backflows.

Routinely clean rain gutters and keep them free from debris. Repair leaky basement walls by applying waterproof compounds or coatings to seal them. Redirect runoff by installing a French drain. Grade sidewalks, patios, and driveways so that water flows away from your home. Use these drains to make sure they remain open and continue to work properly, especially after heavy rains. Consider downspout extensions to provide stormwater drainage at least six feet from basement walls and openings. Make sure that gutters and other components of the roof’s drainage system drain water away from the house.

Creating a Home Flood Emergency Kit

Any emergency kit is only as good as the safety net it provides, and just as every person's needs are different, so too are their emergency kits. Having one that suits your specific needs and scavenging habits can make the difference between a slight inconvenience and a struggle to survive. Though you can depend on today, assembling a home flood emergency kit now will give you one less thing to worry about if and when a flood threatens your home. Some emergency kit items are standard and should be kept in your home at all times.

- Non-perishable food for at least 3 days.

- Water, 1 gallon of water per person per day for at least 3 days.

- Food and water for your pet.

- Medications for at least 3 days.

- Disposable plates, bowls, and eating utensils.

- A first aid kit.

- Flashlight with extra batteries.

- Multipurpose tools like a Swiss Army knife.

- Matches in a waterproof container.

- Bug repellent and sunscreen.

- Extra clothing, blankets, and sturdy shoes.

- Copies of important documents including identification, insurance, and bank account records. This should be in a portable, waterproof container.

Post-Flooding Recovery and Restoration

Following a flood, homeowners must prioritize the safety of their families while taking stock of any property damage and scheduling inspections or assessments. It is not generally safe to reenter a home until local authorities or a building inspector declares it so, given the possibility of hazardous debris or hidden electrical damage. Physical inspections of structural integrity and potential damage are essential shortly after the floodwaters recede to prevent any dangerous long-term effects from developing unnoticed. Homeowners may need to schedule inspections for these issues with professional inspectors and service providers if visual inspections cannot guarantee the house is safe to inhabit.

Restoration may also involve securing professional evaluations of the extent of damage and the costs of repairs. Structural protection is a priority once people are safe and damages have been surveyed. The home should be cleaned and dried quickly—preferably within the first 24 to 48 hours—to prevent rot and mould from setting in. Note that if the home has experienced water backups associated with sewage, affected materials and items may need to be replaced, as structural components. However, they may be salvageable and will require additional cleaning.

Financial assistance may be available for homeowners impacted by flooding, and homeowners are encouraged to research and take advantage of the available resources. A social support system is also important. Flooding impacts everyone differently, but there are always strong emotional responses to the experience of a flood or other disaster, and homeowners are encouraged to seek out the mental health care and support that may help them through their recovery process as well as judiciously employ all resources to help them rebuild and recover. Although the process will not be easy, complete recovery from a flood is possible.