Five Ways to Protect Yourself and Your Home from Hurricane Flooding

Seven hurricanes struck the U.S. in 2021, marking the sixth consecutive above-normal Atlantic hurricane season, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Two registered as Category 4 storms, including Hurricane Ida, which unleashed winds of up to 172 miles per hour and caused more than 90 deaths across nine states.

Hurricanes—also called typhoons or cyclones—damage millions of homes in the U.S. every year. And you may be surprised to learn that a homeowner is 27 times more likely to experience a flood than have a fire during a 30-year mortgage.

Even minor flooding from a hurricane can be costly—just one inch of floodwater in your home can cause $25,000 in damage.

To be clear, hurricanes aren’t only a coastal problem. Which is why you should take the following steps, no matter where you live, to protect your home and your personal safety from a hurricane flood.

Have an emergency plan. Make sure your family is prepared for a hurricane. A comprehensive emergency plan includes gathering emergency supplies (like food, water, and medicine) and equipment (such as flashlights and generators), as well as knowing where you’ll take shelter. To reduce your risk of bodily harm, take refuge in a storm shelter or an interior room. Move to higher ground if flooding begins to occur.

Stay on top of warning signs and alerts. It’s important to know the difference between a hurricane warning and a hurricane watch. A hurricane warning is issued when a storm with sustained winds of 74 mph or higher is expected. The warning is typically issued 36 hours before the onset of tropical-storm-force winds, giving you time to prepare. Meanwhile, a hurricane watch is issued when tropical storm conditions with winds of 39 to 73 mph appear possible within the next 48 hours.

We recommend downloading the FEMA mobile app to receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service. You can sign up to receive warnings for up to five locations nationwide, which is helpful if you live in different cities throughout the year.

Secure your property. If you receive a hurricane warning or a hurricane watch alert, cover windows with storm shutters or plywood cut to fit. Scan your yard for anything that could become wind-borne debris, like lawn and deck furniture, bird feeders, hanging pots, planters, or gardening equipment. (Secure these items in a shed, cellar, or other area.) And unplug electrical equipment and appliances, except for freezers and refrigerators, to reduce your risk of being electrocuted.

Stay safe after a hurricane flood. A few rules of thumb to follow if your home or surrounding area floods: do not touch wet electrical equipment; wear protective clothing, including gloves, goggles and boots, during cleanup (floodwaters may contain sewage, bacteria, and chemicals that can cause illness); avoid damaged or fallen power lines, poles, and downed wires; and avoid drinking tap water until local officials say it is safe.

Get flood insurance. Let’s set hurricanes aside for a minute. Considering that more than 25 percent of flood insurance claims are filed by people living in areas with minimal flood risk, all renters and homeowners should have flood insurance.

Even if you don’t live near in an area that’s prone to hurricanes, you’re still at risk. That’s because standard home and renters insurance policies do not provide any coverage for flood damage, whether it’s caused by water from rain, snowmelt, or overflowing bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams. Even water damage from broken dams or levees isn’t covered by a standard insurance policy.

Don’t have flood insurance yet? We’re here to help.

Contact Us

Our Risk Coaches™ are standing by to help you supplement protection for you home with flood insurance from the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or flood insurance companies. We’ll help you get the right coverage for your home and its contents. Call us at 800.373.5793, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET.800.342.5342 for a free quote.

Product, service, program, credit, and discount availability and limits vary by state. The information provided on this site is provided for informational purposes only and is not a full explanation of products, services, or coverage. For more information, please contact Electric Insurance Company at 800.227.2757. If there are discrepancies between the information on this site and the policy, the terms in the policy apply.

Electric Insurance Company Risk Coaches help you assess your current coverages and exposure to risk based on the information you provide during your discussion. The services provided are for informational purposes only and do not create a professional or fiduciary relationship. Incomplete information or a change in your circumstances after your meeting may affect coverage requirements or recommendations.