Standard homeowners insurance policies do not cover losses due to floods. However, Long Beach is a participant in the National Flood Insurance Program, which makes it possible for Long Beach property owners to obtain federally backed flood insurance. This insurance is available to any owner of insurable property (a building or its contents) within the City of Long Beach. Tenants may also insure their personal property against flood loss. Contact your local insurance agent for current insurance rates. The actual cost will vary depending upon the amount of coverage and degree of flood hazard.
We urge persons who live or own property in flood hazard areas to purchase flood insurance to protect themselves from losses due to flooding. This insurance is required in certain instances, such as financing a home with a federally backed mortgage.
There are several actions residents of flood hazard areas can take to decrease the potential of injury due to flooding:
Know the flood warning procedures.
Do not attempt to cross a flowing stream where water is above your knees.
Keep children away from flood waters such as rivers, ditches, culverts, and storm drains.
If your vehicle stalls in high water, abandon it immediately and seek higher ground.
Evacuate the flood hazard area in times of impending flood or when advised to do so by the Police or Fire Departments.
Turn off all electric circuits at the fuse panel or disconnect switch. If this is not possible, turn off or disconnect all electrical appliances. Shut off the water service and gas valves in your home.
Property Protection Measures
There are various actions that can be taken to flood proof structures. Electrical panel boxes, furnaces, water heaters, and washers/dryers should be elevated or relocated to a location less likely to be flooded. Basement floor drains and interior and exterior backwater valves can be installed and interior floodwalls can be placed around utilities.
If flooding is likely and time permitting, it is suggested that you move essential items and furniture to the upper floors of your home. Keep materials like sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting and lumber handy for emergency waterproofing. This action will help minimize the amount of damage caused by floodwaters. Locations for Emergency Sandbags are available from the Long Beach Fire Department.
References on flood proofing or retrofitting are available at the Long Beach Main Library, 101 Pacific Avenue, at (562) 570-7500.
For assistance on acquiring a flood proofing permit contact the Long Beach Development Services Department at (562) 570-6651.
Always check with the Department of Long Beach Development Services before you build on to, alter, re-grade, or fill in on your property. A permit is needed to ensure that projects do not cause problems on neighboring properties.
All new developments, alterations, additions, or a any modifications to your building or land requires a permit from the Department of Long Beach Development Services, which also includes re-grading or filling the flood plain area.
If you see a building or land being filled without a permit posted, please feel free to contact the Department of Long Beach Development Services.
Long Beach has a complex storm drainage system, which is composed of streets and gutters, catch basins and underground pipes, ditches, streams and creeks, pump stations and channels/rivers. This system is utilized to carry storm waters away from homes and businesses to designated drainage areas, such as the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers.
Maintenance of this drainage system is very important so that a high flood flow capacity may be realized. To aid in this, the City of Long Beach performs maintenance work on the system at least two times a year. Work is also performed on an emergency basis as needed.
A plugged drainage system cannot carry water and could cause flooding when it rains. Do not dump or throw anything into the street or storm drainage system. Dumping in our streets or drainage system is in violation of Los Angeles County Ordinance 20.94.040 and Long Beach Municipal Code Section 8.60.
If you see dumping or debris in the storm drainage system, contact the Los Angeles County Public Works Department's 24-Hour Storm Drain Hotline at (800) 303-0003.
Long Beach has developed a Multi-Hazard Functional Plan (MHFP) to prepare for a variety of disasters, including flooding. The flood warning system included in the MHFP, is intended to provide at least one-hour advanced warning of a flood hazard.
Flood watches, (when conditions are right for flooding) and flood warnings, (flooding is imminent) will be issued to the public by one, or all of the following means:
Local Cable Network
TV (Emergency Broadcast System)
Radio (Emergency Broadcast System)
Mobile Public Address capabilities of Police cars and helicopters.
Critical facilities will receive notification by telephone.
Flood Hazard Areas
The flood map shows the 100-year flood plain as it appears on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) adopted Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) now in effect.
Properties that are not currently shown in a flood plain may be included in the future as FEMA revises the FIRMs. To find out if your property is currently in a Special Flood Hazard Area, you may click here or visit City Hall for detailed maps on file with Public Works – Technical Records, 333 W. Ocean Blvd., 10th Fl., Long Beach, CA 90802, (562)-570-6784.
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If you have feedback, comments or would just like to tell us about your experience, please email us at LBDS@longbeach.gov.
Flood Insurance
