Floodplains are technically defined as “any areas adjacent to a body of water,” although, as FEMA official Louis Botta points out, “Everyone lives in a floodplain.” Some areas may be considered more “high-risk,” such as those located nearby rivers, lakes, and dams, but anywhere that rains falls has the potential for flooding. Many people assume that flood insurance is included in traditional home insurance plans, but it’s not, which could be disastrous in the event of a water emergency. The fact is that there’s no sure-fire way of knowing whether or not you’ll be affected by water damage, and even though flood insurance is mandatory in many vulnerable areas, some homeowners outside of those areas are opting to invest in it just to be safe. If you’re considering flood insurance, there are a few factors to consider before making a final decision.

First and foremost, you need to determine whether or not you live in a high-risk area. The easiest way of doing this is to locate a floodplain map, which FEMA provides at www.msc.fema.gov. After you’ve accessed the map, study it closely and keep an eye out for any highways, lakes, railroads, streams, and bodies of water, taking note of their highlighted risk levels. The maps also reveal special flood hazard areas, base flood elevations and depths, and flood insurance risk zones. If you have any additional questions, call your local flood determination number or Department of Emergency, or contact FEMA’s helpline directly by calling 1-866-336-2627.
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