Are You at Risk of a Flood?

11/4/2020 (Permalink)

You may think you're not at risk, but you don't have to be in a flood zone to suffer a water disaster from a sudden flood.

Did you know that floods are the most common natural disaster in the U.S.? Floods can be caused by large storms, such as hurricanes or heavy rainstorms, or by other events, usually weather-related. The problem with floods is they happen unpredictably and they take a big toll not only in property damage, but unfortunately, sometimes in loss of life, as well.

Let’s take a look at some of the lesser-known causes of floods.

Not in a Flood Zone? Not So Fast

If you think you are immune to the risk of flooding because your home or business isn’t in a flood zone, think again. Each year, approximately one fifth of insurance claims for flood damage come from properties that are outside a designated flood zone. Remember, floods are unpredictable and stem from many sources, so don’t be too relaxed if you’re outside of a flood zone. Anything can happen.

Not Near a River or Stream? It May Not Matter

If you assume you have to be near a river or stream to experience a flood, you’d usually be right—but not always. Urban areas, such as cities and towns that are densely built up, are a frequent location of flash floods. When a large amount of rainwater or snowmelt starts coursing down streets or hills, it has very few places to go, because so much of the ground surface is paved over or covered by buildings, leaving little soil to absorb the runoff.

According to the Associated Press, the condition of almost 1,700 dams across the U.S. poses a risk of failure. A failed dam can release a wall of water that rushes downstream and may escape the channel to spread out over acres of surrounding land, causing water damage to properties that were thought to be safe from floods.

Not “Flood Season?” It’s Always Flood Season

If you think floods only happen in the spring, summer or fall, pay attention during the winter, too. When the temperature fluctuates in the winter, snow can melt rapidly, lots of rain can fall and ice jams can be created. Often, a warm snap will see a combination of snowmelt and heavy rain, creating ideal conditions for an unexpected flash flood.

Warm temperatures will also break up ice along rivers and streams, allowing large chunks to float downstream. The ice gets trapped near bridges and other structures, causing water to back up and flood upstream. Once the jam breaks up, the pent-up water can flow downstream so rapidly that more flooding is caused.

As you can see, floods can happen in many ways in many places, some quite unexpected. An experienced water damage restoration company like SERVPRO of West Hartford stands ready to help you recover from an unexpected flood disaster to your home or business.

We’re Here for You

The team at SERVPRO of West Hartford has specialized training and experience in natural disaster and storm damage cleanup, water damage remediation, fire restoration services and chemical cleanup. Call SERVPRO of West Hartford (860.206.6141) any time.

If your home or business suffers damage from a storm or other natural disaster, call SERVPRO of West Hartford today at 860.206.6141

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If your home or business suffers damage from a storm or other natural disaster, call SERVPRO of West Hartford today at 860.206.6141