Preparedness

Flooding

National Flood Insurance Program

It is important to note that, as a rule, homeowners and renters insurance does not cover damage from flooding. To protect your home, be sure to understand the risk of flooding and what your insurance options are.

The National Flood Insurance Program provides options for homeowners, renters, and businesses to attain flood insurance.

Just five inches of water can cause at least $11,000 worth of damage and 20 percent of all National Flood Insurance Program claims are generated from properties that are outside of the high-risk flood zones.

Facts and Myths about Flood Insurance

FEMA - National Flood Insurance Program Information

FEMA - Why Buy or Renew Flood Insurance

Emergency Kits

Every household needs an easy-to-carry bundle of supplies like water, food and medications to last at least three days. In addition to one in your home, you may want to keep an emergency kit in your car, because you never know when disaster might strike.

A basic emergency kit should include these items:

Water: Include at least three gallons per person, to last a total of three days.

Food: Bring enough non-perishable items for three days.

First aid kit: First aid kits come in many shapes and sizes, you may purchase or build you own kit.

Medications: Stock a seven-day supply of prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

Important documents: Store deeds, leases, insurance policies, passports, medical information and other papers in a fireproof, waterproof container. You may also want to store electronic copies on an external drive or website.

Contact numbers: Know how to reach your support network, including family members, neighbors, doctors and insurance agents.

Cash: ATMs may be down during power outages.

Local maps: The internet and global positioning system (GPS) may not be available.

Flashlight: Don’t forget batteries!

Radio: Get one that is powered with batteries or a hand-crank.

Matches: Keep them in a waterproof container.

Cell phone: Bring your charger, and consider external batteries.

FEMA - Build a Kit

FEMA - Additional items to add for Children

FEMA - Additional items to add for Senior Citizens

Ready.Gov

Ready.Gov

Ready is a National public service campaign designed to educate and empower the American people to prepare for, respond to and mitigate emergencies, including natural and man-made disasters. The goal of the campaign is to promote preparedness through public involvement.

Ready and its Spanish language version Listo ask individuals to do four key things:

(1) stay informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses

(2) make a family emergency plan and

(3) build an emergency supply kit, and

(4) get involved in your community by taking action to prepare for emergencies.