Virginia Flood Awareness Week 2025 Protect the Life You’ve Built
Published on March 07, 2025
Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in the United States, and it is becoming more frequent with climate change. As we head into the annual spring and summer rainy season, Arlington County encourages residents to be informed and prepared.
Virginia Flood Awareness Week, March 9 – 15, 2025, encourages Virginians to learn about their flood risk and protect the life they’ve built with flood insurance. Just an inch of water entering a home can result in as much as $25,000 in damages, yet only 3% of Virginians have flood insurance. In Virginia, a flood insurance policy in lower flood risk areas costs between $400 to $1,000 annually.
More than half of all flood-related drownings occur when motorists attempt to drive through flood water. Arlington has recently installed some high water sensors at some intersections prone to flooding to warn drivers of this risk. Other leading flood-related deaths happen when people walk too close to flood water.
Arlington is taking action to improve Flood Resilience by increasing investment in the County’s stormwater management system, completing the Risk Assessment and Management Plan (RAMP) to identify higher risk flooding areas, and programs such as the Voluntary Property Acquisition Program to Reduce Flood Risk.
Tips for Protecting Property from Water Damage:
- Cleaning gutters and downspouts can help water drain away from structures.
- Keeping storm drains clear of debris enables water to drain away from property during heavy rainfall.
- Investing in a sump pump can help remove water that may accumulate in a home during a storm.
- Checking your home for water entry points can help prevent flooding. During a flood, water may enter through basement windows, basement stairwells, doors, dryer vents or cracks and gaps in the foundation. Some of these can be repaired or protected with low walls or temporary shields.
- Consider installing a sanitary sewer backflow valve to prevent sewer backup flooding.
- Making sure landscaping slopes away from the foundation can help keep water from getting in when it rains.
- Checking fencing to ensure it is high enough off the ground can help water flow out of the yard.
Learn more about reducing your flood risk with these webinars:
To understand more about Arlington floodplain areas, visit the Reducing Your Risk of Flooding webpage. To learn more about flood insurance, visit https://floodsmart.gov or speak with your homeowners insurance agent.
For additional information on what Arlington is doing to be more flood resilient, visit Flood Resilient Arlington.