Lafayette Flooding – A Few Facts You Really Need To Know

The saying along the coast is "if you live near the water eventually you will live in the water" and so it goes. With Mother Nature forecast to drop at least a few more inches of rainfall on us over the next two days a lot of us have been thinking about high water and how to protect life and property from the floods.

The  best way to find out if you live in a low lying area is to look at your drivers license, if it says "Louisiana" you live in a low lying area. All kidding aside, what should you know about flood zones, flood insurance and flash flooding?

One thing I found out about flood insurance is it takes 30 days from when you purchase it for the coverage to begin. So it's not like you could run out this morning and buy some insurance for the house. You might think your homeowners insurance covers flooding? You will most likely be very disappointed when you try to file that claim.

Should you have flood insurance even if you don't live in a designated flood zone? That is a call you're going to have to make but consider a couple of factors other than just looking at a flood map. Have there been any new developments near your property that might change the drainage profile of where you live? Are the coulees, ditches and drains clear from debris and trash? What has happened around your property in previous heavy downpours? These should all factor into your decision about flood protection.

While taking care of property is certainly a major concern, there are certain aspects of flood safety you should be aware of when driving. There is a reason you hear us say "turn around don't drown" during times of heavy rain. The water on the road way may only be a few inches deep but that water carries a lot of force and could move even a heavy SUV off the roadway into deeper trouble.

Another aspect of driving in the rain is hydroplaning. This happens when a small sheet of water builds up between your tires and the pavement making it virtually impossible to control your vehicle. It is very similar to driving on ice and I know none of us do that very well down here.

The current forecast indicates today is going to be a rainy day, hopefully not a day of downpours like we experienced last week. You can always find the latest information posted here on our website or by following 97.3 The Dawg on Facebook. Remember we are all in this together and we are here to help, please let us know how we can serve you.