Flood preparedness checklist for your household

Flooding is the most common and most expensive household disaster, and the one people most often assume their insurance covers.

Find out your actual risk

Flooding happens well outside mapped high-risk zones, often from heavy rain and poor drainage rather than a river.

Flood insurance is separate from homeowners and renters policies and usually takes 30 days to take effect.

Price a flood policy even outside a high-risk zone, where rates are lower
Renters need contents coverage, since the landlord's policy covers the building only
Keep a room-by-room photo or video inventory in the cloud
Store the policy number where you can reach it without the house

Small changes decide whether water reaches the things you cannot replace.

Move the furnace, water heater, and electrical panel above expected flood level where possible
Install or test a sump pump and add a battery backup
Clear gutters, extend downspouts away from the foundation, and consider backflow valves
Keep documents, drives, and photos upstairs in a waterproof container

Most flood deaths happen in vehicles. Six inches of moving water can knock an adult down, and a foot can float a car.

Leave as soon as an evacuation is advised, using a route that avoids low crossings
Never drive or walk through floodwater, even if it looks shallow
Shut off electricity at the panel only if you can reach it without standing in water
Assume floodwater is contaminated, and photograph damage before cleanup

Does homeowners insurance cover flooding?

No. Flood damage needs a separate flood policy, which typically has a 30-day waiting period, so it must be bought before a storm is in the forecast.

How deep does floodwater have to be to be dangerous?

Six inches of moving water can knock an adult off their feet and a foot can float many vehicles. Never drive or walk into floodwater of any depth.

Do renters need flood insurance?

Yes, if they want their belongings covered. The landlord's policy covers the building, not the contents of the unit.

The Household Resilience Check scores this dimension along with seven others in about five minutes.