Proudly Serving Colorado Springs and South Denver

Are You at Risk for Flooding?

Living in Colorado, you may not see much potential for home flooding, outside of your washer hose bursting. We don’t live on the coast and we don’t experience the devastation of tropical storms. But floods can happen nearly anywhere, and they happen more often and more areas than you may realize. Anywhere it rains, it can flood. In fact, floods are the most common and widespread natural disaster in the U.S. Flood risk areas have been identified in all of Colorado’s 64 counties.

Here in Colorado, we are at risk for floods during nearly every season, but springtime has especially high risk. March and April bring warmer temperatures and heavy rain. But until the ground thaws, rain and melting snow cannot be absorbed, and the excess water can result in stream, river, and lake overflow. Ice jams from thawing rivers and streams can block the flow of water, causing upstream flooding. Add strong spring rains to this mix, and you’ve got the makings of a widespread flood.

Colorado wildfires can also lay bare mountainsides normally filled with trees and brush that protect homes from flash flooding. With this protection gone following a fire, spring rains can rush down the mountain, flooding homes and businesses.

A flood doesn’t have to be large to be costly, and you don’t have to live in a high-risk area to experience damage. People who live outside of a designated high-risk flood area file nearly 25% of all National Flood Insurance Program claims, and receive 1/3 of Federal Disaster aid for flooding. Knowing your risks will keep you from getting caught off guard when flood danger is high. Here are a few steps you can take to minimize loss

Steps to Protect Yourself

  • Make an itemized list and take photos of your personal property, including clothing, furnishings, and valuables.
  • Buy flood insurance, and keep your policies and the list of personal property in a safe place.
  • If you live in a high-risk area, keep sandbags, lumber, and plastic sheeting handy to protect your property.

Steps to Take if You’ve Experienced Flood Damage

  • Call the agent who handles your flood insurance policy.
  • Check for structural damage to ensure it’s not in danger of collapsing.
  • Watch for electrical shorts and live wires, and don’t turn on any lights or appliances until an electrician has checked your system.
  • Call Restoration King for immediate assistance

When it comes to flood damage, it’s important that you don’t set out on your own to clean, repair, and restore. Restoration King will assist you with

  • Filing insurance claims
  • Damage assessment
  • Clean-up, removal, and repair
  • Carpet Drying
  • Mold inspection, abatement, and eradication
  • Reconstruction and rebuild

In Colorado Springs, contact us at 719-282-0997; in Denver, at 720-469-0623.