While rain in San Diego may seem rare, it does happen a few times a year. And as the old saying goes – when it rains, it pours. Certain areas of San Diego can be prone to flooding, especially areas near the San Diego river.
With this being the case, it is important to know how to protect your home if you are near any of these areas. If you aren’t near any known flood areas, these are still good tips to know if you end up moving somewhere else or if you have an opportunity to spread the word about flood preparedness.
When it comes down to it, one of the first lines of defense to floods is proper insurance. Homeowners insurance and flood insurance are some of the best ways to recoup the losses of flood damage in your home. With that being said, it is important to remember that there isn’t an insurance policy that can protect you from the emotional damage and trauma that flooding in your business or home can cause. And since this event is not as common in San Diego, many people may not know what to do or how to move forward in the case of a flood.
We are here to help you move forward.
Are You At Risk?
Are you in a potential flood zone? These are one of the things business owners and home owners should ask themselves when stating a place of residence. Knowing will help you be able to take the correct precautions sooner rather than later to help you prepare for a worst-case scenario. The first thing you can do is check a flood zone map.
A flood zone map can tell you average precipitation and areas prone to flood risks. It is as simple as entering your address. A great resource is the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s website. Here you can plug in an address or an area and it will tell you if your area has any potential flood hazards associated with it. To give it a try just copy the link below and paste it into your browser.
https://msc.fema.gov/portal/search
This map is legendary. But seriously, it has a very comprehensive legend that details things such as specialized flood hazard areas, which includes regulatory floodways and without base flood elevation; other areas of flood hazard, including areas with risk due to levee, future conditions 1% annual chance of flood hazard, 0.2% annual chance flood hazard, areas of 1% annual chance flood with average depth less than one foot or with drainage areas of less than one square mile; and much more information to keep you updated on the effect of water in your area.
While maps like these can be incredibly useful, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in the clear if you are not in a flood zone. With this being said, it is always valuable to know of any potential dangers in your area, and the measures to take if a disaster occurs. For example, an area with a reservoir that is protected by a dam could potentially be a risk if that dam ever fails. Things like these are worth considering when coming up with plans in the case of an emergency.
The Risk Associated with a Flood
As to be expected, properties and areas that are closer to flood zones or that are more prone to flooding are typically more expensive and more difficult to insure. This typically tends to offset the value of the property as well. The main reason for this is that flood can have an impact on health and safety. This can also make it difficult to get a building cover for the property, which can cause problems in the purchase or sale of these types of properties. The best way top fix these problems is to get a professional to assess the flood risk of the property and determine what measures need to be put in place.
Here at Clean Earth Restorations, we pride ourselves on serving our community the best way we can by providing up to date information and tips to help with disasters that might catch you off-guard, like flooding. For more information on flooding, or if you or someone you know has been affected by a flood or water damage, give us a call at 619-284-4239, or contact us at cleanearthrestorations.com.
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