Three Important Things To Remember When Living Near A River

For water lovers, living by a major river can be a dream come true. If you do choose to live near the river, here are three important things to keep in mind.

Don't Live on a Floodplain

If you are looking for a home near the river or are planning on building one, you'll want to steer clear of the floodplain. This area typically experiences major flooding during seasons the river is unusually high or when the water threatens to go above the flood stage. While it's true that any area near the river is susceptible to flooding anytime the river spills over its banks, the flooding can be more detrimental in floodplains. A floodplain is established when the river has flooded the land by a 100-year flood. This type of flooding has a one percent chance of actually happening in any given year.

Get Flood Insurance

Getting flood insurance when you live by the river should be a no-brainer, but there are still some who risk going without it. Some homeowners think their home insurance will protect them when the river spills over its banks and into their basement. These people find out the hard way this simply isn't true. In cases of flooding, some things that get covered by flood insurance include: 

• The building and its foundation
• Electrical systems
• Plumbing systems
• Detached garages
• Debris removal

Some homeowners prefer to get flood insurance for basements only or areas underneath the lowest elevated floor. If you choose to live in a floodplain or any other area that is at high risk for flooding, your mortgage company will require you to get flood insurance. For more information, contact Dave Johnson Insurance, Inc. or a similar company.

Keep Safety in Mind

If you are adamant about living near the river, you will need to be adamant about safety as well. This is especially true if you have children in your home or children visiting. For children between the ages of one and 14, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional death. Drowning is also the fifth leading cause of death for those of any age. Half of these drownings occur in rivers, lakes, or oceans.

Some safety tips while enjoying the river include:

• Know how to swim
• Wear a life jacket
• Be aware of the weather at all times
• Know the water conditions
• Be aware of drop offs

You don't have to go far to enjoy water activities and outdoor recreation when you live near the river. To make it even a better experience, remember to keep these three things in mind.

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