Reduce Your Risk of Flooding

Flooding can be a very costly disaster. The risk for flooding can vary within the same neighborhood and even property to property.  Even if your property is not in a FEMA floodplain, you may still have some risk of flooding.  More than 40 percent of flood claims are from areas outside FEMA floodplains.

The County has assessed the storm sewer system and is working on system capacity improvements.  Here are steps that you can take as a property owner to reduce your risk of flooding.

Understand your property's flood risk:

• Is your property in a mapped FEMA flood hazard zone?  Learn more at the links below.
  • FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center.  Information on FEMA Flood Zones
  • Virginia Flood Risk Information System Map
  • On the County’s mapping web site. Click on the blue box that says “I want to…” on the left side of the map to change the visible layers on the map.  Choose “flood zones”.
• Even if your property is not in a FEMA flood hazard zone, you may still have some risk of flooding. Here are some additional sources of information to help you:
  • Check the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation FATHOM map.
  • There are non-governmental sites such as Flood Factor (which may require a subscription) that some real estate sales sites may reference. 
• Why can't flood risk be captured on one map?

Prepare for flooding by doing the following:

• Know how to shut off the electricity and gas to your house or appliances in the basement.
• Make a list of emergency numbers and identify a safe place to go.
• Make a household inventory of belongings with photos, especially the contents in the basement.
• Keep important documents and medicine in a water proof container in a safe place (not the basement).
• Gather supplies in case you have to leave immediately, or if services are cut off — medications, pet supplies, batteries.
• If your home needs a sump pump, get a battery backup in case the power goes out. Check on the pump regularly, especially if it’s more than eight years old.
• Read more tips for Preparing for Storms.

Consider permanent flood protection measures:

• Check your house for water entry points. During a flood, water may enter through basement windows, basement stairwells, doors, and dryer vents. Some of these locations can be protected with low walls or temporary shields.
• Mark your circuit breaker box to show which circuits feed the parts of your house that are most susceptible to flooding. Turning off the electricity to the basement may reduce property damage.
• Install a sanitary sewer backflow valve to prevent sewer backup flooding.
• Consider elevating your house above flood levels.
• Some flood protection measures may require a building permit and others may not be safe for your type of building. Be sure to contact the Arlington County Permitting and Inspection Services Division for more information and resources.
• More information can be found in FEMA’s publication, “Homeowner’s Guide to Retrofitting: Six Ways to Protect Your House from Flooding.” .

Purchase a flood insurance policy.

• Homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover damage from floods, but because Arlington participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), you can purchase a separate flood insurance policy. This insurance is backed by the Federal government and is available to everyone, including properties that have previously been flooded.  Additionally, because the County participates in the NFIP Community Rating System, you will be eligible for a reduction in your insurance premium.
• If you have a flood insurance policy, consider adding coverage for your homes contents – typically flood insurance policies cover only the structure.
• In most cases there is a 30 day waiting period before a flood insurance policy becomes effective.
• Consider adding coverage for sewage back-ups to your existing homeowner’s policy.
• Contact your insurance agent for more information on rates and coverage.
• Learn about flood insurance and basements.
• Homeower Flood Insurance English | Spanish
• Renter’s Flood Insurance  English | Spanish