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BEFORE A FLOOD
ACTIVITIES
– Get a kit
- Prepare a family disaster plan and disaster supplies kit.
 Even with the city's flood early warning technology and coordination in place, every rainstorm is different and can cause sudden and unpredictable flooding effects. If a storm is severe, large numbers of people throughout the region could be affected, quickly overwhelming city and county resources. This could shorten warning time and delay emergency personnel response. That is why every family, especially in flood prone areas, needs to prepare in advance for flooding.
– Buy flood insurance
- Approximately 7,000 houses in Austin are in FEMA-designated floodplains. This means they will undoubtedly flood! Homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Contact your insurance agent to purchase federal flood insurance. Remember, anyone can flood. Even outside of the floodplain. There is a 30-day waiting period for a flood policy to become effective, so DO NOT wait until a flood is imminent to apply for coverage.
- What about federal funds after a disaster? The federal government will not pay for repairs to your home-- they only give loans, and that is only if the community receives a Presidential Disaster Declaration. In fact, they are making the qualifications for a declaration even tighter due to the large number of recent disasters.
– Access your risk
- Is your home in a low spot? Is your driveway or street higher than your home? This may funnel water downhill right into your home.
- Where are your neighborhood stormdrains? If they get clogged, where will the water go?
- How far is your house from a creek, river, ditch, drainage basin, drainage tunnel, or bridge? If they get clogged, where will the water go?
- Do you live near a highway, parking lot, underpass, retention pond, or a low road? If their drains get clogged, where will the water go?
- Do you live near a bend in a creek? If raging floodwaters jump the bank and go straight instead of following the curve, will it affect your neighborhood?
 Are you in the floodplain? Find out! There are three ways of doing this:
- View the paper Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) at the Austin Public Library.
- Submit a floodplain information request form to the City of Austin Floodplain Information Office.
- Visit FEMA's online map store and view the Flood Insurance Rate Maps for free. Here's how:
- Click the "Map Search" link.
- At Step 1, select "Public Flood Map (Online)".
- At Step 2, type in your address and click "Go".
- On the Search Result page, click the green "View" button.
- Zoom in to find your home. The legend is also on each map. Note: North is pointing to your left
– Strengthen your house
- Raise the main electric panel board (electric fuses or circuit breakers) so it is at least 12" above the projected flood elevation for your home. All electrical work should be done by a licensed electrician.
- Raise the washer and dryer above potential flood waters by elevating them on masonry or pressure-treated lumber at least 12" above the projected flood elevation. Other options are moving the washer and dryer to a higher floor, or building a floodwall around the appliances.
- Elevate electrical system components (outlets, switches, light sockets, baseboard heaters, electric service lines at the point they enter your home), and wiring at least 12" above the projected flood elevation for your home.
Elevated air conditioner units and service lines
- Raise your heating, ventilating, and cooling (HVAC) equipment and water heater to at least 12" above the projected flood elevation. Or move them inside a floodwall or a higher floor. All work must conform to state and local building codes.
- Fuel tanks should be securely anchored to the floor. Make sure vents and fill line openings are above projected flood levels. Propane tanks are the property of the propane company. You'll need written permission to anchor them. Ask whether the company can do it first. Be sure all work conforms to state and local building codes.
- Have a licensed plumber install an interior or exterior backflow valve in case flood waters enter the sewer system, and back up into your home.
- Talk to a professional builder, architect or contractor about these other options: building drainage systems around the property, sealing openings such as low windows, building levees, constructing exterior floodwalls around basement doors and window wells, improving exterior walls, elevating buildings above projected flood levels, and relocating buildings away from floodplains.
- Elevate your home
Elevated home
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Allison photo courtesy of the National Weather Service. Raised utility photo courtesy of Dave Saville/FEMA News Photo. House photo courtesy of Liz Roll/FEMA News Photo.
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