15 Blogs with the Best Tips for Protecting Your Home from Flooding

Owning a home is, regardless of the recent lending crisis and housing market collapse, still a treasured part of the American dream. Along with the privilege of owning your own home does come an entirely different type of responsibility than that is required from someone renting property, though. One part of that responsibility includes making sure that you take the requisite steps to protect your investment in the event of severe weather. Storms, whether they be the result of torrential spring downpours or early winter rains, can take quite a toll on a property in the form of flooding and water damage. To add insult to injury after a flood, many homeowners’ insurance policies don't even offer protection from flood damage unless a specific rider has been purchased as well. Flooding is a very serious situation, causing up to three billion dollars’ worth of damage to American properties each year. There's no need to panic, though. There are steps you can take to prevent flooding, and to protect your property from being damaged by rising waters. The contents of these fifteen blogs can help not only the homeowner who has just taken possession of the first house they've ever purchased, but also longtime veterans who have previously neglected the essential task of flood preparedness, prevention and protection.

Flood Preparedness and Information for Coast-Dwellers and Flood Plains
If you live on the banks of a river, along the shore of a large lake or own beachfront property, you know that even a relatively small surge could present a very real problem for your home and belongings. Homeowners whose property lies near large bodies of water or along the coast understand the attendant flood risk, but that doesn't always mean that they know just how to protect themselves. These five blogs are essential reading for any homeowner who's currently in possession of property in a flood-prone area, and even those considering the possibility of purchasing such property in the future.

1. Protecting Flood Plains
2. Prepare Your Home Against Hurricane Flood Damage
3. Working With Nature
4. Is Building in Floodplains a Good Idea?
5. Pros and Cons of Building in Flood Plains

Protecting Landlocked Homes from Flooding
Homeowners whose property lies near a coastline, in a flood plain or on the banks of a large body of water know that flooding is a possibility, but those in landlocked areas may not realize just how much damage can result from a flash flood. Even small creeks and streams can become swollen and overflow their banks, especially if rains fall continuously over the course of several days in an area unaccustomed to such a deluge. These five blogs are geared specifically towards helping the landlocked homeowner understand flood risks, and to mitigate that risk to the best of their ability.

6. Six Ways to Protect Your Home from Flooding
7. How Do I Protect My Home from Flooding?
8. Flash Floods: Are You Protected?
9. Floods
10. Protect Yourself During a Flash Flood

Understanding Insurance Protection Against Flooding
When most people purchase a homeowners insurance policy, they assume that they have protection against significant property loss in the event of a fire, home invasion or act of God. What many people don't realize is that there may not be a provision in their property to cover damage sustained as a result of flooding unless they made the specific effort to acquire specialized coverage. Because the world of insurance policies and riders can be a difficult one for the layman to navigate, these five blogs are essential reading for anyone considering the purchase of a home or making an effort to obtain new insurance coverage.

11. The Changing Climate For Flood Insurance
12. New Flood Insurance Rates Leave Homeowners With Sticker Shock
13. More Flood Insurance Follies in Congress
14. Proof of Loss Tips for National Flood Claims Involving Superstorm Sandy
15. Levees and the National Flood Insurance Program