If you live in the northeast, you may have just purchased a snow blower or sprung for another shovel to handle this season's seemingly unending snowfall. But in fact, this is the time to think about spring weather—including flooding.

Even if you don't live in an area known for flooding, it may be worthwhile to consider buying flood insurance. As we've noted in Consumer Reports, a quarter of claims through the federal government's National Flood Insurance Program are filed by homeowners in areas considered at low to moderate risk for flooding. And floods aren't just caused by overflow from lakes or streams. New development in your area, for instance, could reduce the ground area available to absorb melting snow and rainwater, leading to local flooding.