March 10 to March 16 is Virginia Flood Awareness Week, and the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities is joining the statewide effort to inform citizens about flood risks and flood insurance.

“Flooding is the most common and costly natural hazard in the United States, as noted by FEMA. Flood potential exists anywhere it rains,” April Bingham, DPU Director said. “We urge City residents to take precautions now to lessen the impact of potential flooding in the year ahead.” Just one inch of water in a home can cause up to $25,000 in damages, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Flood insurance can mean the difference between recovering and being financially burdened and devastated.

The Virginia Flood Risk Information System (VFRIS) is an online tool Virginians can use to learn about the risk of flooding to their homes, businesses, or community. The tool, provided by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, can be found at www.dcr.virginia.gov/vfris.

One of the most important steps citizens can take to prepare is to obtain flood insurance. Flood insurance, whether it is through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private carrier, allows individuals, businesses, and communities to quickly and sufficiently recover after a flood. Most homeowners and renters insurance policies do not cover damage caused by floods.

The City of Richmond participates in the NFIP, which means all citizens are eligible for flood insurance, even if they don’t live in a high-risk flood zone. As a Community Rating System community, citizens are eligible for a discount on their premium.

Flood insurance policies take a minimum of 30 days to go into effect. It is important to protect assets and purchase coverage well in advance of a disaster, flood event, and the 2021 hurricane season.

Contact an insurance agent and visit FloodSmart.gov for further details on flood insurance.

To learn how to develop an emergency response plan for any disasters including flooding, visit https://www.ready.gov/plan

More information about Virginia Flood Awareness Week is available at www.dcr.virginia.gov/floodawarenessweek.