Flooding is the most common and expensive natural disaster in the U.S., costing the nation billions of dollars each year. Spring, with its thunderstorms and rapid snowmelt, is the season when flooding really starts to ravage households and businesses across the country.

To prepare your home for spring storms and flooding, it’s critical to know the risks, create a preparedness plan, and fix your home’s flaws. Here are the most important things you can do to guard your home against spring flooding.