My property is located in flood prone area, now what?

My property is located in flood prone area, now what?

There are three different flood prone areas in which your home may be located: a not, a possible and an effective flood prone area.

When you purchase a property, the seller is required to make you aware of whether or not the property is located in a flood prone area. For this, the 'water test' must be carried out. This provides complete information in relation to flood sensitivity.  

Difference between a potential and actual flood prone area

If the house is located in an area potentially  prone to flooding, this means that it is an area where the government has no knowledge of recent flooding. Only in case of a dike breach or extreme weather, for example, is there a risk of flooding in this area. 

If the house is located in an area effectively prone to flooding, this means that there has been recent flooding or that the government can prove that the area has been flooded at least once every 100 years. In this area the probability is therefore higher than in potentially flood prone area.

Flood risk areas

There are also areas called: flood risk zones. These are areas that were delineated by the federal government as part of natural disaster insurance. They are smaller in area than the previously mentioned areas. 

Conclusion

Although it may seem frightening that a house is located in an area prone to flooding, there is little reason to panic: statistically speaking, floods only occur a few times a century in these areas and the government does what is necessary to prevent floods as much as possible.