When it’s caused by heavy rainfall on a late July afternoon or melting snow flowing down the mountainside into rapid rivers, some might be inclined to think that flooding is only a summer danger. But homeowners should be equally prepared for floods when colder temperatures hit.
As noted by these tips from FloodSmart.gov, wintertime carries a heavy risk for four major causes of flooding:
- Ice jams that create obstructions, causing rivers to overflow their banks
- Snowmelt caused by thawing during the mid-winter, running into local rivers
- Frozen land that prevents the ground from absorbing water
- Winter storms along the coast that lead to beach erosion and tidal flooding
And those aren’t the only dangers. The National Weather Service is currently warning residents of the Northwestern region of the U.S. that this year’s winter weather patterns could bring even more trouble, creating prime conditions for severe flooding.
If you live in an area that’s at risk of flooding, then it’s best to get prepared before winter arrives. Here are some basic steps to take:
- Make sure your roof, walls and windows are in good shape. If you neglect to repair your home before a winter storm that leads to preventable damage, your homeowners policy probably won’t cover it.
- Purchase flood insurance if you’re at risk. There will be a waiting period when you buy it, so you’ll want to have it in place well before there’s a possibility of flooding.
- Have a home evacuation plan set up. Make sure everyone in your family knows the safest route to get out of your home in the event of flash flooding and where they should meet up with you.
- Research the safest route out of town. When winter weather comes, it will be all the more difficult to leave in the event of an evacuation.
We all hope to avoid seeing any flooding this winter, but it pays to prepare for the worst while hoping for the best!