Is your home at risk from dam or levee failure?

Learn how to assess your home's risk from dam or levee failure and the steps to protect yourself, including flood insurance options.

Learn how to assess your home's risk from dam or levee failure and the steps to protect yourself, including flood insurance options.

When dams or levees fail, the consequences can be catastrophic, making proper funding and maintenance critical, but it doesn't always happen. They are not what I would call politically sexy. It's not like *** road or *** bridge that people drive on every day. Eric Halpin is an engineering consultant with 45 years of experience. He says every dam should have an inundation map showing flooding risks if it fails, but these maps can be difficult to access. On release of that kind of information since 9/11 happened, became very conservative thinking that those that want to do us harm will use those maps to target areas. He says technology has overcome the ability to protect that information. *** first year engineering student can produce an inundation map in *** matter of minutes. The US Army Corps of Engineers has started adding inundation maps to its national inventory of dams. Right now, *** limited number. Available. If you can't find one for your area, ask local emergency management about your flood risk. Once you know your risk, you can manage your risk. Flooding's sudden and destructive nature makes it difficult for home insurers to price and cover, which is why it's typically excluded. Flooding is different than most risks that are covered by *** home insurance policy. Austin Perez is the senior policy representative for insurance at the National Association of Realtors. He says The easiest ways to determine your home's risk is to get *** free flood insurance rate quote at floodsmart.gov. Just plug in the address, answer *** few questions, and it will tell you what's the cost of owning the home, including the flood risk. And if it's significantly higher than $1000 which $1000 is about the average cost of flood insurance across the country, then maybe it's worth talking to some experts. Flood insurance can come from FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program or private. which may offer higher coverage and additional benefits. Stacking coverage is also an option. There are folks out there who will get the 1st $250,000 worth of coverage from the National Flood Insurance Program, and they will get access or surplus lines coverage in order to make the difference. Perez says flooding can happen anywhere, making insurance *** wise choice. Even where you think you're protected by *** levee or *** dam, you should consider it no matter where you live. Be sure you know your emergency plan in the event of *** flood. Sign up for local emergency alerts, know your evacuation route, and have an emergency kit prepared. Reporting in Washington, I'm Amy Low.

Updated: 2:58 PM CDT Aug 28, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Is your home at risk from dam or levee failure?

Learn how to assess your home's risk from dam or levee failure and the steps to protect yourself, including flood insurance options.

Updated: 2:58 PM CDT Aug 28, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

When dams or levees fail, the consequences can be catastrophic, making proper funding and maintenance critical. The problem? It doesn't always happen."They are not what I would call politically sexy," said Eric Halpin, a dam and levee consultant with 45 years of experience. "It's not like a road or bridge that people drive on every day."Inundation maps, which show flood risks if a dam fails, are often difficult to access due to post-9/11 security policies. Halpin says advances in technology have overcome the ability to protect that information."A first-year engineering student can produce an inundation map in a matter of minutes," Halpin said. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has begun adding these maps to its National Inventory of Dams, but only a limited number are available. If you can't find one for your area, ask local emergency management about your flood risk. Flooding's sudden and destructive nature makes it difficult for home insurers to price and cover, which is why it's typically excluded. Austin Perez, the senior policy representative for insurance at the National Association of Realtors, says you can assess your risk by getting a free flood insurance rate quote at FloodSmart.gov. "If it's significantly higher than $1,000, which $1,000 is about the average cost of flood insurance across the country, then maybe it's worth talking to some experts," said Perez.Flood insurance is available through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program or private providers, which may offer higher coverage and additional benefits. Some homeowners stack coverage, combining FEMA’s $250,000 limit with private excess coverage.Perez says flooding can happen anywhere, making insurance a wise choice."Even where you think you're protected by a levee or a dam, you should consider it no matter where you live," said Perez. It's important to always be prepared in the event of an emergency. Know your evacuation route, sign up for local alerts, and have an emergency kit ready. Learn about dams near youUsing the most up-to-date records from states, the Hearst Television Data Team has built a tool that allows you to see all of the dams in your area and learn whether any are in unsatisfactory or poor condition.Simply search your address or town name in the box below, and the map will populate with any dams near you, their latest condition rating and when they were last inspected.

When dams or levees fail, the consequences can be catastrophic, making proper funding and maintenance critical. The problem? It doesn't always happen.

"They are not what I would call politically sexy," said Eric Halpin, a dam and levee consultant with 45 years of experience. "It's not like a road or bridge that people drive on every day."

Inundation maps, which show flood risks if a dam fails, are often difficult to access due to post-9/11 security policies. Halpin says advances in technology have overcome the ability to protect that information.

"A first-year engineering student can produce an inundation map in a matter of minutes," Halpin said.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has begun adding these maps to its , but only a limited number are available. If you can't find one for your area, ask local emergency management about your flood risk.

Flooding's sudden and destructive nature makes it difficult for home insurers to price and cover, which is why it's typically excluded. Austin Perez, the senior policy representative for insurance at the National Association of Realtors, says you can assess your risk by getting a free flood insurance rate quote at .

"If it's significantly higher than $1,000, which $1,000 is about the average cost of flood insurance across the country, then maybe it's worth talking to some experts," said Perez.

Flood insurance is available through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program or private providers, which may offer higher coverage and additional benefits. Some homeowners stack coverage, combining FEMA’s $250,000 limit with private excess coverage.

Perez says flooding can happen anywhere, making insurance a wise choice.

"Even where you think you're protected by a levee or a dam, you should consider it no matter where you live," said Perez.

It's important to always be prepared in the event of an emergency. Know your evacuation route, sign up for local alerts, and have an emergency kit ready.

Learn about dams near you

Using the most up-to-date records from states, the Hearst Television Data Team has built a tool that allows you to see all of the dams in your area and learn whether any are in unsatisfactory or poor condition.

Simply search your address or town name in the box below, and the map will populate with any dams near you, their latest condition rating and when they were last inspected.

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