How To Prepare For A Flood

It's been a difficult season with regards to floods and flooding. In June 2008 alone, flooding along the Mississippi affected counties in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin. Floods and flash floods result from a wide variety of natural occurrences and are among the most devastating of all natural disasters. Preparing for a flood in advance can help you and your family survives a flood, and minimizes the damage to your property. The following tips are adapted from suggestions made by the U.S. Red Cross.

Be informed. Stay informed about the risk of flooding. Check with your local Red Cross, planning department, zoning department or emergency management office to find out the risk of flooding in your area. The higher the risk, the more important it is to be prepared to take action.

• If it has been raining steadily for several days or hard for several hours, be on the watch for the possibility of a flood.
  
• Listen for emergency flood alerts on local radio and TV stations.
  
• Sign up for text flood alerts from the National Weather Service if available in your area.

Understand the Warnings. There are varying degrees of warnings and watches declared by the National Weather Service. You should know that:

• Floods can develop over the course of several hours or several days.
  
• Flash floods can develop over the course of a few minutes to a few hours.
  
• A FLOOD WATCH means that there is a possibility of flooding in your area. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH means that there is a possibility of a flash flood occurring in your area.
  
• A FLOOD WARNING means that flooding is already occurring or will occur very soon in your area. A FLASH FLOOD WARNING means that there are already flash floods occurring or will occur very soon in your area.

Preparation in Advance

It's not enough to prepare for a flood when you first hear the flood watch. Advance preparation for a flood can save your life and the lives of your family, as well as reduce the financial impact that can tie your family up for years.

• Get Flood Insurance. Chances are that flood damage is not included in your standard homeowner insurance policy. If you're not certain about what flood damage your insurance policy covers, check your policy. If it doesn't cover damage to your home from flooding due to a natural disaster, find out how to get flood insurance.
  
• Assemble a Disaster Kit. A family disaster kit should include: first aid kit and any essential medications, a canned food and a can opener and drinking water - at least 3 gallons per person, a battery powered flashlight and radio AND extra batteries as well as any special items required for infants, elderly or disabled family members, and finally, protective clothing, bedding or sleeping bags.

Know how to turn off utilities. Make sure that you know how to turn off electricity, gas and water if you're advised to do so. If you're likely to be away from home, be certain that an adult or responsible teenager at home knows how to do it.

Know where you can go. Identify places you can go if the authorities evacuate the area. Some possibilities include a friend's home in another town, a shelter or a motel. Identify several places in case one or more are inaccessible.

If there is a FLOOD WATCH:

• Move your furniture and valuables (including a waterproof box containing insurance documents, bank documents and identification documents) to the top floors of your home.
  
• Make sure that your car's gas tank is full in case you need to evacuate.

If there is a FLASH FLOOD WATCH:

• Watch for signs of flash flooding and be ready to evacuate on a moment's notice.

If there is a FLOOD WARNING:

• Turn to a local radio or television station for information and advice.
  
• Evacuate as soon as possible if told to do so.
  
• IF TIME PERMITS, close the main gas valve and turn off power at the main switch.
  
• Record flood statistics such as time, local flood elevations and gauge readings for use in future flood data.

If there is a FLASH FLOOD WARNING or if you think that a flood has already started:

• Evacuate immediately. You may only have seconds to escape.
  
• Move to higher ground.

Evacuation Procedures

• Identify flood evacuation routes beforehand. Know the fastest routes to higher ground.
  
• Do not go around barricades or drive through water across the streets.
  
• If your car stalls in rising water, abandon it immediately and walk back in the direction from which you came.
  
• Avoid shortcuts. Follow the recommended evacuation routes.

Being prepared to evacuate at a moment's notice, as well as being prepared to deal with the aftermath of a flood are vital. The more carefully you prepare, the safer your family will be in the event of a flood.

Brian Jenkins is a freelance writer who writes about topics concerning emergency planning, safety preparedness and demonstrations for emergency response such as Safety Training Videos