After a disaster, make your home resistant to flood, wind damage

Release Number:
FEMA Fact Sheet: DR-4861-WV FS-016
Release Date:
June 3, 2025

Whether you’re rebuilding from the ground up or buying manufactured housing, there are steps you can take to make your home resistant to flooding, winds or other hazards.

Rebuild with flood-resistant materials

Rebuild with flood resistant materials to protect your property from future flooding and make clean up easier. Flood resistant materials can be in contact with water for 72 hours without significant damage.

Flooring materials

  • Concrete, concrete tile, pre-cast concrete
  • Latex or bituminous, ceramic, clay, terrazzo, vinyl, and rubber sheets and tiles
  • Pressure-treated or decay-resistant lumber
  • Cold-formed steel

Wall and ceiling materials

  • Brick, metal, porcelain, slate, glass block, stone, ceramic/clay tile
  • Cement board, cold-formed steel
  • Reinforced concrete, concrete block, closed-cell foam insulation
  • Polyester epoxy paint
  • PT and decay-resistant lumber, pressure-treated and marine-grade plywood

Hardware

  • Stainless or galvanized steel

Note: Use of flood-resistant materials does not prevent damage. Some amount of cleanup and cosmetic repair will usually be necessary.

Protect your manufactured home

Residents of manufactured or mobile homes can take steps to make their houses more resistant to floods, wind and other hazards before a disaster strikes and while recovering after a storm.

If you have questions about the best way to protect your home from future damage, contact a FEMA rebuilding specialist. Call 1-833-FEMA-4US (833-336-2487), and press “1” 

For more information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery, visit emd.wv.gov, West Virginia Emergency Management Division Facebook page, www.fema.gov/disaster/4861, and www.facebook.com/FEMA.

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