It takes less than a minute and is a smart thing to do, even if you don't live near the shore or have a creek running through your backyard.

Every year, thousands of families are not only shocked that their homes could be inundated, but that their homeowner's policy doesn't cover flood damage.

No one's does. You need special government-backed insurance that you can't rush out and buy at the last minute.

Unlike other policies, flood insurance doesn't start protecting right away. There's a 30-day waiting period.

"People generally ask about flood insurance only when they are worried," says insurance agent Evan Evans in Bakersfield, Calif. "There used to be a five-day waiting period, but people were holding off buying it until the water was actually rising."

Just go to What's your flood risk? and enter an address.

Flood insurance can be a good investment even if your risk is judged as low or moderate, because 25% of claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. As the Web site warns: "Floods can happen anytime, anywhere -- even an inch of water can cause serious damage to your property."

Here's where to learn more about flood insurance.