As spring rains approach, MSD Project Clear (MSDPC) is reminding the public that flooding, the nation’s costliest type of natural disaster, can happen anywhere it rains. Flooding causes an average of $5 billion in damage every year across the U.S., and many property owners don’t realize they’re at risk. Through its Know Your Zone initiative, MSDPC is urging residents and business owners to check their property’s flood risk and consider steps to protect themselves from unexpected costs.
“If it rains where you live, it can flood where you live,” MSDPC Executive Director Bret Berthold said. “St. Louis frequently sees substantial rainfall in concentrated areas over a short time, overwhelming creeks, streams, and stormwater systems, causing overland flooding.”
The St. Louis region has experienced more frequent, more intense rain events driven by climate change, a trend that is expected to continue in the coming years. The average flood damage claim is nearly $60,000. Flood insurance is required in high-risk flood zones, but outside these areas, few properties have flood insurance protection as part of homeowners or rental policies. The vast majority of properties in the St. Louis region lie in low-to-moderate-risk zones and therefore may not have flood insurance. However, one in three flood claims occur in these low-to-moderate-risk zones.
That’s why MSDPC is encouraging all St. Louis residents and business owners to Know Your Zone. Visit KnowYourZone.org to:
- Check flood risk by entering an address into the interactive map.
- Learn more about flood insurance options.
- Explore other resources to manage flood risk.
“While MSDPC is not a flood authority, we know that people often think of us when flooding occurs,” Berthold said. “We want to be sure people know about the other resources available, so they can decide how best to protect their property.”
At KnowYourZone.org, you can understand your flood risk and options. By entering an address in our interactive flood zone map at KnowYourZone.org, people can learn if a property has a high, moderate, or low flood risk, and then decide for themselves what options they may have to manage their risk.
More information is available at KnowYourZone.org.