Is your home in a flood zone?

Technically, everyone lives in a flood zone. That's because a flood can happen anywhere, at any given time. All 50 states experience flooding, according to the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL).

What you're probably trying to determine, though, is whether your property is in an area that's considered higher risk of flooding.

A good way to figure that out is on a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood map. The map shows each community's risk of flooding, including specific flood zones and their boundaries. Simply enter your address on the flood map to pull up a record of your area. Flood maps may also be available from local government offices, courthouses and libraries, according to the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH).

If your home is in an area that's considered low risk for flooding, for instance, the map will likely spell that out with an "Area of Minimal Flood Hazard" notation across the geographic area. Locations with a high risk for flooding are marked as "Special Flood Hazard Area."

FEMA also groups communities into specific flood zones, each represented by a different letter of the alphabet. For example, higher-risk areas are typically labeled with codes that begin with the letters A (like AE) and V, FEMA says, while moderate- and lower-risk areas have zones beginning with B, C or X.

Depending on which flood zone your home is in, it's important to understand the risks and take proactive steps to protect you, your family and your property. Assess your home’s vulnerability to water getting in. Are there basements or lower levels that are particularly susceptible to water damage? Are your utilities (furnace, water heater, electrical panel) elevated or at ground level? Understanding which vulnerabilities your home may have will help you prioritize protective measures.

Here's a list that Ready.gov provides of things you can do to help protect your home in case of a flood:

• Maintain gutters and downspouts: Regularly clear gutters and downspouts of leaves, twigs, and other debris to ensure proper water flow away from your foundation.
• Improve drainage: Ensure the ground around your house slopes away from the foundation. Consider installing French drains or re-grading your yard to direct water away from your home.
• Elevate utilities: If possible, elevate your furnace, water heater, electrical panel, and other critical utilities above the potential flood level.
• Install sump pumps: If you have a basement or crawl space, install a sump pump with a battery backup to remove accumulating water.
• Seal cracks and openings: Seal cracks in your foundation, walls, and around windows and doors to prevent water intrusion.
• Use flood-resistant materials: When making repairs or renovations, consider using flood-resistant materials for walls, floors, and insulation in areas prone to flooding.
• Landscape strategically: Choose landscaping that can help absorb water, such as rain gardens or permeable pavements, and avoid features that might trap water near your home.
• Secure outdoor items: In the event of a flood warning, secure or bring indoors any outdoor furniture, trash cans, or other items that could float away and cause damage.
• Create a flood emergency plan: Develop a family emergency plan that includes evacuation routes, meeting points, and a communication strategy.
• Prepare an emergency kit: Assemble a kit with essential supplies like water, non-perishable food, first-aid items, medications, flashlights, and important documents.
• Keep important documents safe: Store copies of important documents (insurance policies, identification, financial records) in a waterproof container in a safe, accessible location.
• Install backflow valves: Consider installing backflow valves on your sewer lines to prevent floodwaters from backing up into your home through drains.

Depending on which flood zone you live in, you may be required by your mortgage lender to have flood insurance (a homeowners policy typically doesn't protect you against flooding).

But even if you're not required to buy flood insurance, you may still want to consider a policy because, according to FloodSmart.gov, nearly one-third of NFIP flood insurance claims come from outside high-risk flood areas.

Keep in mind that flood maps can change over time. It can be helpful to stay in touch with your insurance provider and stay aware of any proposed changes to the FEMA flood map in your community. Development, wildfires. and other forces may change how water drains in your community. These changes may affect the risk of flooding in your area and can change your need or requirement for flood insurance.

By staying informed about your area's flood risk and taking precautions, such as purchasing flood insurance, you may be better prepared if a flood ever does threaten your area.