Floods can happen anytime, anywhere, and they can come about with little or no warning - but they can leave a heap of destruction in their wake. Protecting your home against the damage that a flood can cause is well worth the effort and it will pay off in the long run, should a flood ever occur.

Check with your insurance agent to find out if your community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program. If you live in a participating community, you are eligible to buy flood insurance. You will be in a high risk zone or a low risk zone. The zone and the value of your home will be considered in determining your premium.

If you live in a home with a basement or other area that could possibly be below the base flood elevation (the elevation that a flood with a one-percent annual chance of occurring will reach), it’s a good idea to use water-resistant building materials in this area. If you are building or remodeling a home with a basement that is below base flood elevation, you might also want to consider leaving the floors unfinished.

Before the possibility of a flood threatens, it’s important to come up with a plan so you and your family can be prepared. Become familiar with alternative escape routes from your home and your neighborhood, and be sure to designate a meeting place for everyone should your family become separated.

Taking a thorough inventory of all the items in your home is a huge time-saver in the event of a flood. By already having all your possessions listed out, you and your insurance agent will save a lot of time and a claim can be filed much faster.

Lastly, when bad weather happens, be sure to follow the advice of local authorities and weather personnel. Do not deviate from the sound advice of these professionals. While the items in your home might have to be replaced, you never can be.