No real estate anywhere is immune to flooding. You might think: "Hey, I live atop a mountain, that's impossible!" Yet in reality, all homes experience running water—from rain or simply the pipes servicing kitchens, bathrooms, gardens, etc. Yes, some homes are located in areas more prone to water accumulation, exposure to rivers, lakes and oceans, valley-related run-off, etc., and therefore more prone to natural disasters or events, or even simple extreme rain events.

I recall a colleagues experience during Hurricane Sandy in Manhattan: Friends who lived uptown and were not impacted by the awful flooding experienced in their neighborhood cooed at how lucky they were to avoid the floods. Three days later, a pipe burst in a neighbor's apartment three flights above theirs and their apartment was badly damaged by flooding.

All homes everywhere need to evaluate flood risk of all kinds, including that washer/dryer. Emergency alert systems, automatic shut-offs, drains, rainwater drainage systems, gutters, etc., should be a consideration for all properties. So whenever a client buys a home, do them a big favor and mention this aspect so they think of these things before flooding happens.