Whether you’re buying land or building a home, it’s always a good idea to get a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood survey. There’s nothing more important than knowing everything about the property in which you’re investing. If the area has major potential for flooding, you should know. This is especially true if you plan on planting crops or raising livestock in the area.
Read on for more information on flood hazard maps and why they’re important to check before purchasing a property.
More about flood maps
Floods can occur almost anywhere due to nearby waterways, heavy rains and much more. Flood maps show areas that are most prone to flooding. Some areas are more prone to flooding for a number of reasons, including poor drainage. Flood maps are updated through FEMA.
Where to find flood maps
FEMA’s flood maps can all be found through the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. On the FEMA website, you can also find a variety of regulatory flood products, including flood insurance studies, flood hazard maps, flood risk reports, etc. All this information is extremely useful whether you’re purchasing a property or planning to build. There are even several tutorials available on how to use all of the available products.
Purchasing flood insurance
If you’re in an area that’s at risk for flooding, you’ll want to purchase flood insurance, which requires you to obtain an elevation certificate. During a land survey, you could request an elevation certificate, which tells how likely your property is to experience flood damage. You can present this to your insurance company, which will help them calculate the cost of your flood insurance.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) issues these elevation certificates. The certificate features several pieces of information about your property, including various building features, the elevation of your lowest floor and location information.
Protecting your property
If you know that your property is located in a flood zone, it’s important to take certain precautions. As mentioned above, one of the best things you can do is invest in good flood insurance. Be sure to do your research on insurance companies in the area, and go with the one that puts your needs first.
Aside from investing in good insurance, you can also protect your property from flood damage by maintaining drainage and water runoff. That means keeping your gutters and downspouts cleaned and maintained. You might also consider installing flood vents or a sump pump inside the home.
During a flood, there’s always a chance that water will get into your home. That’s why it’s important to keep valuables in a safe place, especially if they’re prone to water damage. You might even want to invest in watertight containers for your valuables.
Flood damage is always a risk, but you can better prepare yourself by investing in a flood survey and checking local flood hazard maps. It’s also important to invest in the right flood insurance. If you need an elevation certificate, contact the experts at Mason & Associates today.