Flood Safety Awareness Week is March 11-15, 2019
March 11-15, 2019 is Flood Safety Awareness Week in New Hampshire. Did you know that flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in New Hampshire and the United States? This week, we encourage individuals, families, businesses, and communities across the State to get the facts about flooding and flood safety. Below we dispel 5 common myths related to floods and flood insurance.
5 Myths About Flooding and Flood Insurance…Busted!
(View our short video series or read below)
MYTH #1: A flood has never happened near my home or business so I don’t need to worry about flooding.
FACT: It can flood anywhere it rains—plus climate change is making weather less predictable and increasing sea levels, which isn’t helping. New development in floodprone areas can also make flooding problems worse.
MYTH #2: I am not in a flood zone on the FEMA flood maps so I don’t need to worry about flooding.
FACT: Flood maps do not show all places where it will flood, now or in the future. In fact, almost 25% of flood insurance claims are outside of FEMA flood zones.
MYTH #3: A little flooding won’t cause much damage to my property.
FACT: Just 1 inch of water can cause over $25,000 in damage to your home! Use the Cost of Flooding Calculator at FloodSmart.gov to understand how much flood damage can cost you.
MYTH #4: I can’t buy flood insurance because my building is outside of a FEMA flood zone.
FACT: Anyone who lives in or owns property in a community that participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (most NH communities) can buy flood insurance. Contact your insurance agent or visit FloodSmart.gov to learn more.
MYTH #5: My homeowners insurance policy will cover damage from a flood.
FACT: Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.
Now that you’ve got the facts straight, visit ReadyNH.gov to learn how to prepare for a flood. Learn more about flood insurance at FloodSmart.gov. Remember, the best time to prepare for a flood is right now!
Outreach Toolkit
Help spread the word to your community’s residents, your colleagues, and friends and relatives during Flood Safety Awareness Week using the following resources.
- Fact Sheet: Five Common Myths about Flooding…Busted
- Know the Facts About Flooding video series
- Sample Facebook Messages
- Sample Press Release for Communities
- On Twitter, retweet OSI's Flood Safety Awareness Week tweets
Links and Resources
Floodplain Management Program
NH Homeland Security and Emergency Management
NH Department of Environmental Services
Other Resources