5 Facts About Living in a Flood Plain

  • Flood Plain Definition
  • Buyer Beware
  • Understand Risk
  • Understand Insurance
  • Safety Plan

There are several important things that people should know about living in a flood plain. Although flood plains can be dangerous, they are also an important part of the ecosystem, and many people live on floodplains and have no issues. Below are five important flood plain facts.

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1. Flood Plain Definition

While most people may have heard the phrase “flood plain,” fewer may know exactly what a flood plain is other than that it is an area that gets a lot of flooding. Flood plains are areas located near rivers or streams that may experience flooding when the water is high. This may sound like an area to be avoided, but many towns are built on or near flood plains because of the proximity to a waterway. Flood plains may be found miles away from the actual river, so a lack of immediate proximity to the water source does not mean an area is safe. Flood plains are areas of very rich biodiversity and usually contain far more varieties of species than adjacent land.

2. Buyer Beware

Many people might assume that if they lived on a flood plain, they would know it. However, this is actually not a required disclosure. This means that when people are purchasing property, they should do their research to find out whether it is in danger of flooding because the seller may not inform them. Flood maps for many areas can be found online. These maps should be examined closely because it may only be a portion of the property that is on a flood plain. The house itself be relatively safe from flooding.

3. Understand Risk

People who are already living on property that is in a flood plain should not panic. Being on a flood plain does not automatically mean that flooding will happen. The Federal Emergency Management Agency provides a detailed classification of areas based on flood risk. Building in certain areas may be prohibited because of this risk. In an area classed as a 100-year flood plain, the chance of flooding when it rains is 1%. In a 500-year flood plain, that chance drops to .2%. Flood plains are reassessed periodically, and risk can change.

4. Understand Insurance

People in flood plains are generally required to carry flood insurance since homeowners or renter’s insurance will not typically cover floods. Flood insurance may not be cheap. It can cost from a few hundred dollars annually to thousands of dollars per year for people who are in particularly high-risk areas. There may be a waiting period to purchase flood insurance, so people should not procrastinate.

5. Safety Plan

The potential dangers of living in a flood plain go beyond damage to property and people who live in flood-prone areas should be prepared with a safety plan. The Department of Homeland Security offers a number of safety tips in case of flooding and encourages people to have an evacuation plan. One danger is that people often underestimate the amount of flood water needed to knock them off their feet or sweep away cars. After a flood, water may be contaminated.

Having a home on a flood plain is not necessarily a recipe for disaster, but residents in these higher-risk areas need to take precautions to protect themselves and their property. Doing research, getting sufficient insurance coverage and planning for a flood are all important steps for people living in a flood plain.