Before the flood comes, get your home ready

Colorado officials expect hazardous spring runoff

 

 Photo of 2013 flood damage courtesy of Wunderground.com

 

October through April heavy snow showers bring...spring flood season? Here in Colorado, meeting winter snowpack levels teeters between a very fine balance of not enough vs. too much. To illustrate this point, last year the state endured both record-breaking wildfires and flooding within the span of a few months. Mother Nature came in like a furious wrecking ball, taking out thousands of homes in its wake.

This spring, the Rocky Mountain state again is bracing itself for massive flooding potential. In a fairly unprecedented pre-emptive move, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development granted nearly $200 million in recovery funds to flood-damaged Colorado communities, anticipating the possibility of more devastation after a heavy snow year. Many areas in Boulder, Weld and Larimer counties are still recovering from September's flooding deluge.

So, how protected are you from flooding? Many people do not realize that their standard homeowner's insurance policy does not cover flood damage. Separate flood insurance is needed to cover these losses, and just about anyone is eligible to buy it. While purchase of a flood insurance policy is only mandated in designated flood plains, in light of previously unaffected areas (i.e. Colorado's Front Range and most of the East Coast after Hurricane Sandy) getting insured before catastrophe hits could save you thousands.

Areas previously wiped out by fires also are particularly susceptible to flash flooding because there is little foliage left to absorb the precipitation - as was the case in Waldo Canyon last year near Colorado Springs. With Colorado wildfires increasing in intensity, one can only expect increased flood risk to follow.

Fortunately, whether you rent or own a single-family house or condo, you can protect your home and belongings with flood insurance. The National Flood Insurance Program offers a wealth of information on how to obtain insurance and file claims after a flood hits. You may not be able to control Mother Nature's volatility, but you can minimize your losses by being prepared.