Finding Flood Solutions
Although flood risks can never be completely eliminated, there are solutions to reduce risk.
Adaptation at the local, state, and federal levels is often more effective and cost-efficient than individual efforts, but each plays an important role in reducing physical and financial flood risks.
Protecting your home
Solutions to protect your home vary in terms of cost, effort, time to implement, and effectiveness. Individuals can also ask local officials to find solutions and support measures that reduce risk and lower flood insurance costs.
Explore individual Solutions
Structural options can help flood-proof a home to mitigate physical damage, or make a property more absorbent to reduce runoff and prevent flooding.
Flood insurance
Flood insurance reduces financial risk and allows you to recover more quickly and completely after a flood. Homeowners, renters, and businesses can reduce the financial impact of flood damage by purchasing flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and private insurers.
Protecting your community
Effective flood risk management is collaborative, future-facing, and considers local needs. Resilient communities prioritize and invest in natural resources, engineered solutions, and insurance to withstand and recover from floods.
Explore local planning and regulations
Planning for flooding helps communities reduce the number of people and buildings at risk and lower insurance costs.
Explore structural improvements
Engineered structures and urban design help to reduce the impact of flooding.
Explore nature-based infrastructure
Restoring and protecting ecosystems and creating new green space can prevent flooding by improving water retention.
According to the National Institute of Building Sciences, every $1 spent on flood risk reduction saves $7 on future disaster losses. Smart planning saves lives and can minimize the impact and cost of flooding.
Review ways to reduce risk
Personal
- Find Your Flood Factor
- Learn Local Risks and Plans
- Consider Flood Insurance
- Prepare Financially
- Flood-Proof Home
- Make Property More Absorbent
- Consider Relocating
Community
- Assess Short and Long Term Risks
- Create a Plan to Address Existing Flooding
- Find Ways to Future-Proof Community
- Prioritize and Invest in Flood Risk Reduction
- Protect and Develop Natural Infrastructure
- Set Resilient Development Standards
- Consider Removing Buildings In Floodplains
Why are flood risk increasing?
A changing environment means higher seas, new weather patterns, and stronger storms.
Resources
Protecting Your Community
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)Floodplain Management and Community Rating System (CRS)References
1. FEMA. National Flood Insurance Program: Summary of Coverage2. FEMA. Reducing Flood Risk to Residential Buildings That Cannot Be Elevated3. FEMA. Homeowner’s Guide to Retrofitting4. FEMA. Protect Your Home from Flooding: Low-Cost Projects You Can Do Yourself5. FEMA. Protecting Your Home and Property from Flood Damage6. FEMA. Protecting Building Utility Systems from Flood Damage7. FEMA. Protect Your Property from Flooding8. Ready.gov. Build An Emergency Kit9. FEMA. National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System 10. FEMA. Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)11. FEMA. Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Program 12. FEMA. Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program 13. Association of State Dam Safety Officials. Living with Dams 14. Climate.gov. Climate Resilience Toolkit 15. USACE. So, You Live Behind a Levee16. USACE. Flood Risk Management: Value to the NationShare This Page
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