Protecting your Tulsa Property from Flood Damage
February 7, 2010
The City of Tulsa has had its fair share of floods and over the last few years has implemented various flood control projects to help protect the city; however, it is impossible for Tulsa to be 100% free from flooding. Due to this, Tulsa homeowners should learn what they could do to help protect their property in case of flooding.
You can request a free flood zone determination, which is detailed floodplain boundary map by contacting the Mayor’s Action Center and providing them with your address and the legal description of your Tulsa property.
Even if your property is not deemed to be in a flood area, you may still want to take some precautionary measures such as:
- Retrofitting buildings
- Regrading your yard
Retrofitting buildings or regarding the yard is nothing more than elevating those buildings above flood levels and then installing backflow preventers, which will ensure that your floors are protected from damage of sewer backups, which is always a problem during flooding. You may even consider creating structural barriers such as floodwalls or levees. If you do wish to add a structure to your property to help protect your Tulsa home from flooding, you will need to get a building permit.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency better known as FEMA has published a pamphlet, “Homeowner’s Guide to Retrofitting: Six Ways to Protect Your House from Flooding”. This publication will provide Tulsa homeowners information on protecting their property as well information regarding financial assistance.
Temporary Measures
Spring is just around the corner and this is the season that the majority of the flooding occurs in the Tulsa area. Being prepared is the best way to protect your property if only for a temporary time period.
Before spring arrives, have a plan of action. Know how and where you place your belongings out of the way of the rising water if it reaches your home. Keep specific materials on hand such as lumber, plastic sheeting, sandbags, and plywood. Ensure that all brush and debris has not collected in storm drains or ditches, this only adds to the water coming onto your property.
If you are considering a building structure, you should speak with a qualified Tulsa city staff member at the Permit and Licensing Center. Since flood control is a city-wide problem, you do not want to build a structure that will save your property but may cause the water to flow into other areas and cause damage. Talking with city staff to learn your options and receive qualified help to build a safe project while complying with the floodplains set forth by the City of Tulsa will be your best bet.
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2 Comments to Protecting your Tulsa Property from Flood Damage
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The National Flood Insurance Program is in suspended animation, starting March 1, thanks to congressional wrangling over legislation that would reauthorize it. The Post’s Federal Eye blogger, Ed O’Keefe, explains the legislative drama, which is expected to be resolved within a few days. For home buyers and owners, it means the only source of flood insurance is temporarily unavailable.
I asked Tim Wilson, president of affiliated businesses for Long & Foster, which includes a title company and two mortgage companies, whether the holdup would delay real estate closings. “If FEMA shuts down for a few days, I think it would have very little impact,” he said. (FEMA runs the National Flood Insurance Program, though policies are sold by individual insurance agents.)
All mortgage applications are run through an automated system to determine whether the home they’re financing is in a designated flood area. Wilson said if they don’t get an automated answer within 48 hours, they follow up on that application. Considering that it usually takes 30-60 days to go from contract to closing on a home loan, a few days’ delay getting the flood insurance approval is not likely to delay closings, he said.
When it comes to Flood damage we could all stand a little more awareness.
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