Gov. Glenn Youngkin has declared March 10-16 to be Virginia Flood Awareness Week. It’s a time for Virginians to prepare for potential flooding ahead of spring rains, summer downpours and the upcoming hurricane season.

“Floods are the most common natural disaster and can happen without warning across the commonwealth. We encourage Virginians to take proactive steps to protect themselves and their property by assessing their flood risk and with flood insurance coverage,” said state Department of Conservation and Recreation Director Matthew Wells.

DCR coordinates flood-protection activities across the state and helps communities comply with the National Flood Insurance Program, which allows homeowners to purchase federally backed flood insurance regardless of flood zone.

Virginians can input their address into DCR’s Virginia Flood Risk Information System (VFRIS) to assess their property’s flood risk. The online platform was recently updated for mobile compatibility and new featu...