Provided by Prince William County Fire & Rescue
Flooding is the most common and costly natural hazard in the Commonwealth and throughout the United States. Prince William County is joining the statewide effort to help residents learn about their flood risk and the benefits of flood insurance during Virginia Flood Awareness Week, March 8-14, 2020.
Flood Insurance
Did you know that most homeowner’s and renter’s insurance policies do not cover flooding? Just one inch of floodwater in a home can cause over $25,000 in damages! One of the most important steps residents can take to prepare their home and family for flooding is to obtain flood insurance, whether it’s through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private carrier.
Prince William County participates in the NFIP, which means all property owners are eligible to purchase a flood insurance policy. Anywhere it can rain, it can flood! Heavy rains can cause flash flooding outside of established floodplains, so you should still consider buying flood insurance even if your home or business is not in a high-risk flood zone. The county also participates in the Community Rating System, which means that you will receive a 5% to 15% discount on your NFIP flood insurance policy, depending on your flood risk.
Flood insurance policies take a minimum of 30 days to go into effect. Protect the life you’ve built, and purchase coverage well in advance of a flood disaster. Contact an insurance agent or visit FloodSmart.gov for further details.
Turn Around, Don’t Drown®
Finally, did you know that just 12 inches of flowing water can sweep away a vehicle? Most flooding-related deaths occur in vehicles, so if you encounter flood waters when driving, PLEASE Turn Around, Don’t Drown®!
For more information on your flood risk, or to find out what you can do to be prepared before, during and after a flood, please visit pwcgov.org/ready. You can also follow us on Twitter or Facebook @READYPWC.
