Flood Damage Prevention Tips, Tools and Resources

To find out if a home is located in a regulated floodplain or is adjacent to a regulated floodplain, search the property using the NC Flood Risk Information System
Monitor real-time flood gauge data for Cabarrus County and North Carolina at NC Flood Inundation Mapping and Alert Network.

Know how to shut off the electricity and gas in the house.
Make an emergency contact list and inventory household items, especially basement contents.
Identify a safe place to go in the event of flooding.
Inventory household items, especially basement contents.
Store valuables, insurance policies and important documents in a waterproof container, preferably upstairs.
Mark the fuse or breaker box to show the circuits to flood prone areas of the home.
Turn off the power to the basement in a flooding event. This can reduce property damage and save lives.
Store cleaning supplies, a camera, waterproof boots, etc. in a waterproof container.
Develop a family emergency plan and identify a safe place to go in the event of flooding. A template plan is available at http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/FamEmePlan_2013.pdf
Visit Ready.gov to learn how to be prepared before, during and after a flooding event.
Do not drive on roads that have been closed due to flooding or that are flooded! Visit https://www.weather.gov/safety/flood-turn-around-dont-drown to learn about flood safety when driving and the “Turn Around, Don’t Drown” campaign.
View low-cost options to reduce the risk for residential buildings and protect your home from flooding ahead of time.

Consider elevating the house above the regulatory flood protection elevation levels if it isn’t already elevated and installing flood vents.
Check the building for water entry points. These can be basement windows, stairwells, doors or dryer vents. Protect these areas with low walls or temporary shields.
Install a floor drain plug, standpipe, overhead sewer, or sewer backup valve to prevent sewer backup and flooding.
Use only licensed contractors who know the rules for flood damage prevention construction standards.
Don’t build or grade within 10 feet of a property line so that the drainage isn’t altered between homes.
Some flood protection measures require building permits. Others may not be appropriate for the type of building. Be sure to consult with Construction Standards Staff at 704-920-2128 before starting any work. Make sure downspouts drain away from the house to protect the basement from flooding.
All development in the regulated floodplain requires local floodplain development permitting. Be sure to consult with Zoning Staff before starting any work at 704-920-2141. Illegal development in the floodplain should also be reported to the same number.

Homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover damage from flood.
Since Cabarrus County participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, you are eligible to purchase a separate flood insurance policy. This insurance is backed by the Federal Government and is available to everyone, even properties that have been flooded in the past. Cabarrus County also participates in the Community Rating System Program, and has a rating of 8, which allows you to receive a reduction in the insurance premium.
Flood policies typically cover the structure and not the contents. During the kind of flooding that happens in this area, damage to furniture and contents is likely. Be sure to speak with an insurance agent about content coverage for your home or if you are renting near the floodplain.
Don’t wait for the next flood to buy insurance protection. In most cases, there is a 30-day waiting period before National Flood Insurance Program coverage takes effect.
Contact an insurance agent for more information on rates and coverage.

Purchasing flood insurance will help pay for repairs after a flood. In some cases, it will also help pay the costs of elevating a substantially damaged building.
Always check with Cabarrus County prior to altering or building any new structures so you know what type of permits will be needed and the type of construction required in flood prone areas. For information related to commercial building construction standards visit https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/NCBC2018/chapter-16-structural-design#NCBC2018_Ch16_Sec1612. For information related to residential construction standards visit https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/NCRC2018/chapter-3-building-planning#NCRC2018_Pt03_Ch03_SecR322.
For overall development standards visit Chapter 16 of the Cabarrus County Development Ordinance.
For information on retrofitting existing structures visit FEMA's Six Ways to Protect Your Home.

Natural floodplain areas should be protected and remain undisturbed.
Alternate building site locations should be considered before developing in the floodplain.
Floodplain areas should not be used as dumping grounds for yard waste or debris. These items make their way to the stream beds and cause flooding.
Sedimentation is the number one pollutant in our streams and rivers. Riparian buffers should be left along rivers and streams to allow filtration and dissipation before runoff reaches the stream.
Dumping chemicals, paint, yard waste or debris into storm drains should be avoided as these waters make their way to the streams and floodplains. It can block the drains and cause urban flooding.

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