Floods can cause irreparable structural damage. Frequent floods and negative grading can lead to many problems — structural damage, basement flooding,  electrical damage and risks, sanitary hazards and diseases from standing water, choked drainage, and so on.

Just to give you a perspective — a 2,500-square-foot home that floods with 6 inches of water can lead to more than $50,000 worth of losses.

Negative grading is the reason why water flows towards the house instead of running to designated areas or channels. Water enters your property and compromises the integrity of wood and drywall.

Furthermore, the longer the groundwater level stays abnormally high, the greater the damage. Here’s how a flood can damage your house:

• The foundation and patio can crack
• Buckling floors and roof
• Mildew and mold start growing
• Damaged septic system and fences
• Cracked swimming pools

And much more.

Here’s how to protect your home from flooding:

First – Access The Risk

• Is your house susceptible to flood?
• If yes, can it withstand it?

An easy way to answer these questions is through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood map, which defines flood regions into four primary zones:

• Blue zone – High risk of flood hazard — 1% chance of significant flooding.
• Orange zone – Moderate risk of flooding — 0.2% chance of flooding.
• Blue with red strips zone – Special flood hazard — highest risk zone.
• Yellow zone – Under-detected region — not enough data to support a risk of flooding. People living in this region are guided to keep their gutters clean.

Homes in blue and blue with red stripes zones must buy flood insurance and have a flood evacuation plan. Also, homeowners of the highest risk — blue zone people — should obtain an elevation flood certificate that ensures their house is flood-proofed.

Flood-Proofing Measures

Before putting flood-proofing measures in place, calculate if your house lies above the flood level.

This is the water level that is generally reached by flood during heaving storms or flood seasons. Your house should be higher than this level to protect it against flood damage.

Further, here are some key ways to protect your house from flooding:

Raise Your House Level

Rebuilding a house just to flood-proof it is clearly off the table. Raising your house on stilts or piers is an easier way to elevate the flood level. This way, the flood water runs beneath the house, keeping all your precious belongings from drowning.

There are two things to consider:

1. The stilts should be high enough to keep the water away from the house.
2. Stilts themselves should be sturdy and firmly anchored in concrete.

Install Sump Pumps In Basements

Relieving the water pressure on doors and basement windows can be ensured through better drainage of food water in the house. For this, sump pumps can be installed to drain out the water in regular flooding regions.

Sump pumps move water from your basement to the outside by directing the water into a discharge pipe and away from the home’s foundation.

Proper Drainage & Water Runoff Systems

Regularly clean gutters to ensure proper flow of water outside the house. The direction of the gutters should take water 10 to 20 feet away from the house, so it does not flood the foundation of your home.

Also, splash pads can be added to the roofs that protect the roofs and hinder water from flooding inside the house.

A rain barrel can be installed under a downspout to collect the water. This water can later be re-utilized elsewhere.

Coating The House Inlets

Make sure all doors, windows, and foundation cracks are sealed with flood-proof coatings. This will prevent water from oozing out from weaker points.

Document Safety

Ensure all documentation is plastic coated, so they are secured in flooding. These will be your lifeguards while making all insurance and government fund claims.

Elevated Electrical Sockets

Electrocution is the most dangerous aspect of flooding. Raising all the electrical sockets and circuit breakers above the flood level will avoid the hazard.

Protection Of Electrical Appliances

Apply wooden blocks below all electrical appliances to raise their level above the flood risk level. Being cautious of all your precious appliances can save you from million-dollar damage in case of a flood.

What To Do During Flooding?

Minimize water retention and avoid further damage by:

• Switching off the electricity board immediately.
• Clearing the gutters and house sewage lines.
• Fold away all water absorbent items such as clothes, rugs, mats, and furniture to be saved.
• Sandbags are your savior. Pile up sand bags on all doors and water entry points.
• Take pictures of all important documents so you can claim damage control later.

Post-Flood Recovery

The flood caused you enough financial and emotional damage. Remember, stopping further damage promptly after the flood is crucial. The more the water sits on your surfaces, the messier it gets, leading to a hindrance in salvation.

First, stay inside the house, if possible. In case of water buildup, go to the highest level surface and call for professional help.

Avoid driving a car; this might seem simple but could lead to electrocution.

Sanitize everything before reuse. Stagnant water is an ideal habitat for germ growth.

Next, you need to search for a “flood mitigation company near me.” Why? To keep all this from happening the next time a flood knocks on your door.

DMAC — The BEST Flood Mitigation Company In Maryland

DMAC provides a structural form of flood mitigation where the whole landscape is reconstructed to divert water away from your house to flood channels.

According to DMAC, the yard should slope 6 inches for every 6 feet to keep the water from reaching the foundation. But don’t worry; we provide multiple iterations of the proposed plans to ensure everything is catered to your needs.

DMAC has been in business for over two decades. We have seen all the deadly flash floods in Maryland and helped countless homeowners flood-proof their houses. Our team follows the best practices and adheres to the Department of Environment’s flood management guidelines to keep water from intruding.

To find out more about our services, visit DMAC’s official website or contact us now!