WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency is urging New York residents to take steps now to protect themselves before seasonal floods strike.

Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States, with the spring months bringing heightened risks due to rapid snowmelt, severe storms and heavy rainfall. In New York State, floods have caused 11 presidential disasters to be declared in the last 10 years. Yet despite the state’s vulnerability, currently only 2 percent of New York residents are insured against flood damage.  

This spring also marks the 15th anniversary of the Great Floods of 1993 – one of the largest floods in U.S. history, and weather conditions this spring are similar to those that caused the devastating 1993 floods. New Yorkers are reminded that their spring flood risks are significant. As recently as April 2007, severe flooding caused extensive damage to both inland and coastal communities in the southeastern part of the state. 

Most homeowners’ policies do not cover flood damage. Flood coverage must be purchased separately, and there is typically a 30-day waiting period before a new flood insurance policy becomes effective, so the time to purchase a policy is now. Federally backed flood insurance is available to residents, business owners and renters in high and low- to moderate-risk areas. 

Residents are reminded that protecting themselves from flooding requires simple action, including: storing important documents, adhering to local evacuation plans and purchasing flood insurance to protect their financial investment. FEMA also offers the following tips to prepare for flooding: