Flood Preparedness: What You Need to Know

🌊 Floods Don't Wait. Neither Should You.

Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States. They can happen almost anywhere—not just along coastlines or major rivers. Heavy rain, overwhelmed storm drains, snowmelt, a dam failure upstream. It doesn't take much.

So let's talk about what you can actually do.

The Most Important Rule: "Turn Around, Don't Drown"

We need you to hear this clearly:

➡️ Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you off your feet.

➡️ Just 1 foot of moving water can sweep your car away.

(Source: Ready.gov / FEMA)

More than half of all flood-related deaths happen when people try to drive or walk through flood water. Don't do it. The water is deeper than it looks. It's moving faster than it looks. And it can kill you.

If you're told to evacuate—GO. Don't wait. Don't second-guess.

A Personal Note

Because of what our family went through during Hurricane Helene, we understand flooding at a deep level.

We had three houses flood. Our father's house had over three feet of water sitting in it for days. He moved out and was never able to go back.

We know what this feels like. The shock. The grief. The way your brain can't quite process what's happening. We know.

Your home is your heart. We understand that. AND—your home can be rebuilt. You cannot. Your family is what matters most.

Years of evacuating have taught us this: Stuff is just stuff. YOU are far more important.

Start With a Plan

We're not going to overwhelm you with a massive checklist today—we'll be doing many more posts in the coming weeks about go bags and what to grab.

But for now, here's where to start:

✅ Know Your Flood Risk

Visit FEMA's Flood Map Service Center at msc.fema.gov and type in your address. This takes 5 minutes.

And here's the thing—just because you haven't flooded in recent years doesn't mean you won't. Look at North Carolina during Helene. Look at Washington's historic flooding. The 100-year flood line exists for a reason.

✅ Have Your Important Documents Ready

Keep them in a waterproof container in a place you can access quickly.

We personally keep a bin nearby for our most important family photo albums. If we have time, those go with us. But here's the truth—you may not have enough time for everything. And that's okay. You and your family are what matter most.

✅ Know How to Shut Off Your Utilities

Water, gas, and electricity. Practice this NOW, not when the water is rising. And make sure you have the right tools on hand to do it.

Read our Utility Shutoff Tools guide →

✅ Have a Communication Plan

Make sure your family knows where to meet and who to contact if you get separated.

A Quick Note on Insurance

Here's something that surprises a lot of people:

Your regular homeowner's insurance does NOT cover flood damage.

You need separate flood insurance—and it typically takes 30 days to go into effect.

And if you're a renter? You need flood insurance too. We saw this happen tragically in our area during the hurricanes—renters who assumed they were covered and weren't.

Read our Flood Insurance Deep Dive →

The Bottom Line

Preparedness isn't about fear. It's about giving yourself and your family options when things go sideways.

One small step today puts you ahead of where you were yesterday. That's the whole game.

Stay safe out there. 💙

Key Takeaway

Turn around, don't drown. 6 inches of moving water knocks you down, 1 foot sweeps your car away. Know your flood risk at msc.fema.gov. Regular homeowner's insurance does NOT cover floods—you need separate flood insurance, and it takes 30 days to activate.

Be Ready Before the Storm

Our free guides help you build a complete preparedness plan—water, power, food, documents, and evacuation planning.

Get the Free Guide →