Flooding is a major problem, especially when you live in Atlanta and get deluges of heavy rain in the summer. Many an Atlantan has encountered a soggy basement due to summer storms (or any-time-of-the-year storms), and it’s very important to go over thunderstorm safety with your family. Lots of floods are caused by poor or blocked drainage, where the water has nowhere to go and just continues to build and build.
But remember that flooding due to heavy rain isn’t covered by homeowners insurance. You’d need a separate flood insurance policy for that. Anyways, we’ve got some tips to help you avoid flooding from surface water in your home.
1. Do a walk around your home.
The ground should slope away from the foundations of your house for at least 10 feet. This will send the water sliding away from your home, not towards it. That way you don’t have a river gushing towards your house.
2. Extend downspouts.
To keep water from flooding your home, extend your downspouts for at least 10 feet from your home to get it a safe distance away. Send the water away from your house, but take care that you don’t just send it running into your neighbor’s yard and towards their home. They won’t thank you for that. Plus that’s just rude.
3. Consider preventative landscaping.
Inventive and creative landscaping can help with directing water flow and keeping the water from getting to your home. Strategic landscaping changes to your yard could help you keep water from seeping into your home. Keep the water outside where it belongs.
4. Clean the gutters and downspouts at least twice a year.
Leaves and other grossness can build up in your gutters and downspouts, blocking the water. The water needs somewhere to go, so you need to make sure that your gutters and downspouts give it a clear path. Water overflow is not good.
5. Have your home’s roof inspected annually.
Find a trustworthy roofing business that can do a roof inspection for you. If you can catch problems before they become serious, you’ll save yourself a lot of headache – and water damage. It’s better to have all those leaks and weak spots taken care of before you have to weather a deluge.
6. Be on the lookout for impending flooding situations.
If you know that you’re going to have some heavy rain (which happens often in Atlanta) you can take steps to batten the hatches and prepare your home for the rain. Stay alert to the weather and be mindful of things that you can do to prepare for storms beforehand – for example, repairing the weathering at the bottom of a door that always lets water in. Whatever you need to do to prepare, think it through and deploy your defenses. Since flooding is one of those things that are excluded from home insurance, it’s important to be proactive.
7. Know how to shut off your electricity, gas, and water.
If a flooding situation becomes an emergency, you may have to turn off your utilities. Make sure you know how to do that. In an emergency you might be stressed and flustered, so you might not be thinking straight enough to play puzzle games with your water, electricity, and gas lines! If you already know how to turn off the utilities, you’ll be a seasoned pro if there’s ever a flooding emergency.
8. Check the foundation of your home for cracks.
Gaps and fissures in the foundation of your home will let water in during a heavy rain. Water’s very sneaky like that. Make sure to repair any problematic cracks, and if necessary bring in a professional to help you.
Water can cause a lot of damage to a home, and it’s expensive to restore a home after it’s been subject to flooding. Making sure that your home can stand up to a heavy rainstorm can help you avoid having to pay for costly repairs (but, just in case, it’s a good idea to know how to choose a reputable water damage contractor.) You also might want to consider a flood insurance policy to further protect your home. Now, keep in mind that flood insurance won’t cover all water damage – you have to read the policy very carefully to find out exactly what’s covered. But still, if you have a heavy rainstorm and water accumulates on the land around your home, it can be helpful!
If you need a homeowners insurance or renters insurance quote, we’d love to help you out with that! We’ll help you build a customized insurance plan that will help you protect your home and your family. All you have to do to get started is fill out our quote form or give us a call today and we’ll be happy to help you with any of your insurance needs.
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