Water damage comes in many shapes and forms and often from sources you could never predict. The weather is often to blame for unexpected water damage, but other factors also cause it. Children, for example, have a wonderful way of causing water damage wherever they go, as do pets. Not all of this water damage can be prevented, but it can often be dealt with.
And the weather often brings water damaging to our lives and usually never in small quantities. A sudden flood or violent rainstorm can wreak havoc upon our homes. One major factor in dealing with flooding is to purchase the right sort of home in the first place. If you choose a home situated in such a way that all the water from a flood would gather around the house, then you are simply asking for trouble in the future. If you purchase a sufficiently raised home that water runs away from it, then this is very unlikely to become an issue.
If water leaking into your home from above is an issue, you should see to your roof. If you cannot deal with the heights, hire someone to reseal your roof. A leaking roof can cause more damage than you think. The water may be coming down in one area, but the leak may be sending water all over the place, and that water may be causing damage in other parts of the house. The more water you can keep out of the house, the better.
When it comes to children, pets, and water damage, there are very few ways to prevent this damage. As the children get older, they will become more aware and less likely to cause damage, but pets don't progress in this way. Be patient, and if you have a plan for dealing with a damaging mind already, then when it happens, it will not be a major issue but rather a minor inconvenience.