What Is Your Flood Risk?

When the rain is falling it might be too late to start checking whether you're in a flood zone, but there is a way to get the facts beforehand. People who move to new homes, and especially into new

Tuesday, May 8th 2007, 5:46 pm

By: News On 6

When the rain is falling it might be too late to start checking whether you're in a flood zone, but there is a way to get the facts beforehand. People who move to new homes, and especially into new subdivisions, might wonder what's going to happen there in a big rain storm. The News On 6â€™s Emory Bryan reports how a neighborhood might handle the runoff isn't always apparent, but there are several ways you can check on the propertyâ€™s flood potential.

There's nothing like a solid day of heavy rain to test the flood planning for a neighborhood. In Broken Arrow, one home had slight flooding Monday, even though it's in a new neighborhood designed to handle a 100 year flood. Despite that, it's flooded twice in the last year, which is sure to affect the value of the homes.

"Everybody says this will be forgotten, but for resale value, who is going to want it? Who is going to watch that every time?â€ said Broken Arrow homeowner Linda Potts.

In more established areas it's possible to check for a history of flooding, because the seller must disclose it to the buyer. But to double check, look for insurance claims with a CLUE report from the mortgage or insurance company.

To check the risk for newer areas, look at the flood plain maps created by FEMA and the city. There should also be a flood determination form included in the documents at closing. To check the plans and local codes for an area, contact the floodplain manager, the government official in charge of regulating building in flood areas.

For the ultimate verification, hire an engineer to study the elevation and drainage of property and recommend changes. And there are people who hire surveyors and engineers to evaluate property as the ultimate check, but that's the most expensive way.

For more on determining your flood risk, click here.

Watch the video: Checking Your Flood Risk