1. Believe the warning
Most flood damage to homes happens because people waited to see. A flood watch means flooding is possible — start preparing. A flood warning means flooding is happening or imminent — execute your plan now. Sign up for wireless emergency alerts and keep a hand-crank NOAA weather radio charged; cell towers are often the first thing to fail.
2. Move the irreplaceable up
Insurance can replace drywall and couches. It cannot replace photo albums, hard drives, heirlooms, or paper records. Move them to the highest floor — or better, take them with you. Then move electronics, rugs, and anything on the ground floor upstairs. Roll up area rugs and stand furniture on blocks if you can't move it.
3. Seal the entry points
Water gets in through doors, garage entries, vents, and drains. Place water-activated flood barriers at every ground-floor door. Close and latch all windows. If you have time, plastic sheeting and duct tape over low vents buys you inches — and inches decide claims.
4. Shut off utilities — in the right order
Electricity first: turn off breakers for areas that will flood, or the main breaker if the whole first floor is at risk. Water + live electricity kills. Gas second: if you smell gas or water is rising toward appliances, turn off the gas at the meter (you'll need the utility company to turn it back on — that's the safe trade). Water last: only if instructed or if pipes may freeze in winter flooding.
5. Move the cars
Cars are the #1 flood casualty after homes themselves — and auto policies with comprehensive coverage handle flood damage, but only up to the car's value. Move every vehicle to high ground before roads flood. Parking garages on upper levels, friends' driveways on hills, anywhere above the projected waterline.
6. Document everything — before it gets wet
Walk through your home with your phone and video every room, opening every closet and drawer. Narrate what you see. This 10-minute video becomes the backbone of your insurance claim. Upload it to the cloud immediately. Photograph serial numbers on appliances and electronics.
7. Leave early
If authorities issue an evacuation order, go. If water is rising and you feel unsafe, go. Two-thirds of flood rescues are people who waited too long to drive out — and driving through floodwater is how most flood deaths happen. Six inches of moving water knocks you down; twelve inches floats a car. Take your go-bag, your pets, your documents, and your pre-flood video. Lock the doors.
The 30-minute version
If you just got the warning and water is an hour out: move valuables upstairs, barriers at the doors, breakers off, cars to high ground, video the house, grab the go-bag, leave. Everything else is negotiable. Your life isn't.