Flooding is often associated with Mother Nature, but that isn’t always the case when water begins pouring down from your ceilings or leaking onto your floors. Flooding conditions can also happen when water lines burst in the streets or if your washing machine finally gives out mid-cycle.

Even though we live in a relatively urban area, we can still experience flooding situations due to the weather. Strong storms and high water levels in the waterways around us can cause trouble unexpectedly. Knowing the risk level for your own home can help you stay in control as the conditions change around us.

You should still be on high alert even if your property hasn’t necessarily flooded in the past. If you live in a low-lying area or your yard slopes even a little bit toward your house, you could wind up with water where you don’t want it. Extend your downspouts if you can, add extra drainage to your yard or consider adding a rain garden to help give all that water a more productive place to go.

If you live in a neighborhood with trees, check your gutter system regularly to remove potential leaf buildup and consider installing gutter covers to help keep that debris out of your system.