You cannot pull a flood diary for every address, but you can read the terrain and hazard zones that decide flooding. A practical guide for Philippine buyers.
"Has this place ever flooded?" is the right question to ask before buying. The problem is that sellers may not know, may not say, and there is no official flood diary for every lot. Here is how to get the answer anyway.
A property's flood history is written into its terrain. Instead of relying on what a seller remembers, check the factors that actually decide flooding:
CheckHazard reads all three for any address and explains them in plain language. The flood return periods explainer covers the "how often" part.
The terrain reading is the backbone. You can confirm it against what is publicly known: the floods of 2024 and 2025 showed which regions and cities take water, and local news and barangay records often note past flooding. If the terrain says "low, near a river, in a flood zone" and the area has a flood history, those two agree, and you should take it seriously.
On site, look for water lines on walls and fences, ask neighbors (not just the seller) how the last big storm went, and notice where water would drain. The data tells you where to look; the visit confirms it.
CheckHazard does not replace a professional geotechnical or engineering survey. Use it as the first step in checking an address, not the last.