FEMA, Virginia DCR offer advice for keeping homes dry during possible downpours

PETERSBURG, Va. (WRIC) -- This week's flash flooding has forced some Central Virginians from their homes and caused problems for drivers, and our StormTracker8 team says there's a chance for more downpours.

That's why some government agencies are offering advice to keep homes protected from the worst.

According to the National Flood Insurance Program, even one inch of floodwater can cause more than $25,000 in home damage.

Some quick "do-it-yourself" projects, like cleaning the gutters and sealing cracks in the home's foundation, are some tasks that can be done to keep a home dry, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Virginia DCR advised homeowners with basements to install a sump pump to direct groundwater away from the home and prevent basement flooding.

FEMA also said some projects that can protect a property include improving the property's lot grading, such as building up any sunken areas around the foundation or improving the yard for water to slope away from the building.

Any household equipment or appliances like heat pumps, fuel tanks and air conditioning units may want to be moved above ground, so they do not float away.