Is your home at risk for flood damage? How can you tell if you should protect your home? Thankfully, there are several things you can look for when it comes to your flood risk warning signs. With some online research and a look around your house, you’ll have everything you need to know about your risk for flood damage. Ready to get started? Then check out the list below.
Flood Zone
First of all, your biggest flood risk warning sign comes from whether or not your home is in a flood plain. Floods can happen anywhere in the US. However, some places with lower grounds and more water are at a higher risk than others. Thankfully, FEMA provides several flood maps that you can check to assess your risk. Search for your city to learn more. By the way, Chicago and the surrounding areas often deal with a lot of flood damage.
Basement or Foundation Cracks
Chicago has a lot of water. You can’t change that. You can, however, look for flood risk warning signs around your house. When you take the right precautions, you can protect your house even when floods do show up. For example, look for cracks in your foundation and on your basement walls. If your basement has a window, look for surrounding cracks there, too. These cracks can let water into your house during a flood.
Sump Pump Failure
Do you have a sump pump? Go ahead and take a look at it while you’re checking out your flood risk warning signs. Your sump pump keeps groundwater out of your house. If your sump pump stops working or doesn’t have a battery backup for power outages, then you could end up with water in your basement.
Marshy Ground
Now, take a look around the outside of your house. How does the ground look? Does it hold onto water after it rains? Do you have a lot of puddles that take a long time to go away? If so, that could be a sign that you have a lot of groundwater surrounding your house. That water could seep into your home during the next flood. If you do have swampy or marshy ground, make sure that you have a sump pump in working order.
Flood Risk Warning Signs
What if your home has gone beyond the flood risk warning signs? What if you already have water damage? In that case, it’s time to call MHS Restoration. We can handle all of your water restoration needs, from reconstruction to flood damage. Don’t delay. Call MHS Restoration now.
