Millions of Americans are at risk of flood damage yearly, but so few do anything to manage it. According to iProperty Management, at least 14.6 million homes across the United States are at a risk for some flooding problems. This issue may affect you if you don't take the proper steps to manage it. The following processes will help prepare your home for flood prevention and minimize your need for flood damage restoration.

Properly Grade Your Lawn

While landscaping may seem a bit excessive for flood prevention, it's actually one of the best ways to manage this problem. That's because floods often start when a yard isn't properly graded to handle water problems. Hiring a team to grade your lawn will slope it away from your home, helping water flow away from its foundation and minimizing damage.

Finish Your Basement

Flood prevention teams often start by getting their customers to finish their basements to make them safer from floods. This step includes doing things like putting up better insulation, adding stronger flooring, and sealing overhead pipes in a drop ceiling. In this way, the home is better protected from exterior floods. Sealed and insulated pipes are also less likely to burst and flood your home.

Don't Ignore Your Mulch

While mulching your yard can help improve your grass health, it can also put water right against your home that may cause a flood or damage your home's structure. Thankfully, you can minimize your flood risk by keeping a space of at least six inches between your mulch and your siding. This distance stops water from wearing away your siding and causing a higher flood risk.

Seal Your Basement

Even if you have a finished basement, water damage may still be a real problem. Thankfully, you can also seal your basement walls by calling in a professional for waterproofing and flood damage restoration. Waterproofing includes installing various barriers that stop water from soaking into your basement. In this way, you can keep your basement dry and safe from mold and other problems.

Protecting your home from flood damage often starts with simple steps that you can take yourself to minimize your flood risk. However, it is usually best to work with a flood damage restoration team to get help. These professionals will do things like fix any damage that occurs in your home and ensure it's protected from floods. Contact JB Water Damage Restoration today to learn more.