Flood Safety
Know the difference
between WATCHES and WARNINGS Plan for a Flood What to Tell ChildrenHow to Protect Your PropertyWhat to Do Before Flooding
OccursAssemble a Disaster
KitWhat to Do During
a Flood WATCHWhat
to Do During a Flood WARNINGFlood SafetyWhat to Do if Your Are Driving During a
Flood What to Do After a
Flood or Flash Flood
Know the difference
between WATCHES and WARNINGS.
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A National Weather Service WATCH is a message indicating that
conditions favor the occurrence of a certain type of hazardous
weather. For example, a severe thunderstorm watch means that a
severe thunderstorm is expected in the next six hours or so within
an area approximately 120 to 150 miles wide and 300 to 400 miles
long (36,000 to 60,000 square miles). The NWS Storm Prediction
Center issues such watches. Local NWS forecast offices issue other
watches (flash flood, winter weather, etc.) 12 to 36 hours in
advance of a possible hazardous-weather or flooding event. Each
local forecast office usually covers a state or a portion of a
state.
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An NWS WARNING indicates that a hazardous event is occurring or
is imminent in about 30 minutes to an hour. Local NWS forecast
offices issue warnings on a county-by-county basis.
Many more WATCHES are issued than WARNINGS. A WATCH is the first
sign a flood may occur, and when one is issued, you should be aware
of potential flood hazards.
Be aware of flood hazards. Floods can roll
boulders, tear out trees, destroy buildings and bridges, and scour
out new channels. Floodwaters can reach heights of 10 to 20 feet
and often carry a deadly cargo of debris. Flood-producing rains can
also trigger catastrophic debris slides.
Regardless of how a flood or flash flood occurs, the rule for
being safe is simple: head for higher ground and stay away
from flood waters. Even a shallow depth of fast-moving
flood water produces more force than most people imagine. The most
dangerous thing you can do is to try walking, swimming, or driving
through floodwaters. Two feet of water will carry away most
automobiles.
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Plan for a Flood
Develop a Family Disaster Plan. Please see the
"Family Disaster Plan" section for general family planning
information. Develop flood- specific planning. Learn about
your area's flood risk and elevation above flood stage.
Contact your local Red Cross chapter, emergency management office,
local National Weather Service office, or planning and zoning
department about your area's flood risk. Knowing the elevation of
your property in relation to nearby streams and dams will let you
know if forecasted flood levels will affect your home.
If you are at risk from floods:
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Talk to your insurance agent. Homeowners'
policies do not cover flooding. Ask about the National Flood
Insurance Program (NFIP).
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Use a NOAA Weather Radio with a tone-alert feature, or a
portable, battery-powered radio (or television) for updated
emergency information.
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Develop an evacuation plan. Everyone in your
family should know where to go if they have to leave. Trying to
make plans at the last minute can be upsetting and create
confusion.
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Discuss floods with your family. Everyone
should know what to do in case all family members are not together.
Discussing floods ahead of time helps reduce fear and anxiety and
lets everyone know how to respond.
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What to Tell Children
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If you come upon floodwaters, stop, turn around, and
go another way. Climb to higher ground. If it is
moving swiftly, even water six inches deep can knock you off your
feet. Many people are swept away wading through floodwaters,
resulting in injury or death.
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Stay away from flooded areas. Even if it seems
safe, floodwaters may still be rising.
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Never try to walk, swim, drive, or play in
floodwater. You may not be able to see on the surface how
fast floodwater is moving or see holes and submerged debris.
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If you are in a vehicle and become surrounded by water,
if you can get out safely, do so immediately and move to higher
ground. Vehicles can be swept away in two feet of
water.
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Watch out for snakes in areas that were
flooded. Flood waters flush snakes from their homes.
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Stay away from creek and stream banks in flooded and
recently flooded areas. The soaked banks often become
unstable due to heavy rainfall and can suddenly give way, tossing
you into rapidly moving water.
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Never play around high water, storm drains, ditches,
ravines, or culverts. It is very easy to be swept away by
fast moving water.
- Throw away all food that has come into contact with
flood waters. Contaminated flood water contains bacteria
and germs. Eating foods exposed to flood waters can make you very
sick.
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How to Protect Your
Property
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Keep insurance policies, documents, and other valuables
in a safe-deposit box. You may need quick, easy access to
these documents. Keep them in a safe place less likely to be
damaged during a flood.
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Avoid building in a floodplain unless you elevate and
reinforce your home. Some communities do not permit
building in known floodplains. If there are no restrictions, and
you are building in a floodplain, take precautions, making it less
likely your home will be damaged during a flood.
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Raise your furnace, water heater, and electric panel to
higher floors or the attic if they are in areas of your home that
may be flooded. Raising this equipment will prevent
damage. An undamaged water heater may be your best source of fresh
water after a flood.
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Install check valves in building sewer traps to prevent
flood water from backing up into the drains of your home.
As a last resort, when floods threaten, use large corks or stoppers
to plug showers, tubs, or basins.
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Construct barriers such as levees, berms, and flood
walls to stop flood water from entering the building.
Permission to construct such barriers may be required by local
building codes. Check local building codes and ordinances for
safety requirements.
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Seal walls in basements with waterproofing compounds to
avoid seepage through cracks.
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Consult with a construction professional for further
information if these and other damage reduction measures can be
taken. Check local building codes and ordinances for
safety requirements.
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Contact your local emergency management office for more
information on mitigation options to further reduce potential flood
damage. Your local emergency management office may be able
to provide additional resources and information on ways to reduce
potential damage.
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Assemble a Disaster Supplies
Kit
Flood-specific supplies should include the
following:
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Disaster Supplies Kit basics. (list)
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Evacuation Supply Kit. (list)
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If you live in a frequently flooded area, stockpile
emergency building materials. These include plywood, plastic
sheeting, lumber, nails, hammer and saw, pry bar, sand, shovels,
and sandbags.
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What to Do Before Flooding
Occurs
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If it has been raining hard for several hours, or
steadily raining for several days, be alert to the possibility of a
flood. Floods happen as the ground becomes saturated.
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Use a NOAA Weather Radio or a portable, battery-powered
radio (or television) for updated emergency information.
Local stations provide the best advice for your particular
situation.
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Listen for distant thunder. In some types of
terrain, runoff from a faraway thunderstorm could be headed your
way.
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If you are stopping your vehicle, camp or park away from
streams and washes, particularly during threatening
conditions. Floodwaters can rise quickly and carry you or
your belongings away.
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When in or along stream channels, be aware of distant
events, such as dam breaks or thunderstorms that may cause flash
floods in the area.
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What to Do During a
Flood WATCH
When a flood or flash flood WATCH is issued:
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Listen continuously to a NOAA Weather Radio, or a
portable, battery-powered radio (or television) for updated
emergency information. Local stations provide you with the
best advice for your particular situation.
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Everyone in a WATCH area should be ready to respond and
act quickly. Floods and flash floods can happen quickly
and without warning. Be ready to act immediately.
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Be alert to signs of flooding, and if you live in a
flood-prone area, be ready to evacuate at a moment's
notice. Floods can happen quickly and you may need to
leave with little or no notice.
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Follow the instructions and advice of local
authorities. Local authorities are the most informed about
affected areas. They will best be able to tell you areas to
avoid.
If your residence is in a flood-prone area:
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Fill bathtubs, sinks, and plastic bottles with clean
water. Water may become contaminated or service may be
interrupted.
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Bring outdoor belongings, such as patio furniture,
indoors. Unsecured items may be swept away and damaged by
floodwaters.
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Move your furniture and valuables to higher floors of
your home. If flood waters affect your home, higher floors
are less likely to receive damage.
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If you are instructed by local authorities, turn off all
utilities at the main power switch and close the main gas
valve. In some areas, local authorities may advise you to
turn off utilities to prevent further damage to homes and the
community.
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Get your preassembled disaster supplies ready.
You may need to act quickly. Having your supplies ready will save
time.
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Fill your car's gas tank, in case an evacuation notice
is issued. If electric power is cut off, gas stations may
not be able to operate pumps for several days.
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Be prepared to evacuate. Local officials may
ask you to leave if they truly feel your home is at risk from
floodwaters.
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What to Do
During a Flood WARNING
When a flood or flash flood WARNING is issued:
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Listen continuously to a NOAA Weather Radio, or a
portable, battery-powered radio (or television) for updated
emergency information. Local stations provide you with the
best advice for your particular situation.
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Be alert to signs of flooding. A WARNING means
a flood is imminent or is happening in the area.
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If you live in a flood-prone area or think you are at
risk, evacuate immediately. Move quickly to higher ground. Save
yourself, not your belongings. The most important thing is
your safety.
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Follow the instructions and advice of local
authorities. Local authorities are the most informed about
affected areas. They will best be able to tell you areas to
avoid.
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If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. Move
to a safe area before access is cut off by floodwater. Evacuation
is much simpler and safer before floodwaters become too deep for
vehicles to drive through.
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Follow recommended evacuation routes. Shortcuts
or alternate, nonrecommended routes may be blocked or damaged by
flood waters.
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Leave early enough to avoid being marooned by flooded
roads. Delaying too long may allow all escape routes to
become blocked.
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Flood Safety
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Stay out of areas subject to flooding. Dips,
low spots, canyons, washes, etc., can become filled with water.
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If outdoors, climb to high ground and stay
there. Move away from dangerous flood waters.
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If you come upon a flowing stream where water is above
your ankles, stop, turn around, and go another
way. Never try to walk, swim, or drive through such
swift water. Most flood fatalities are caused by people attempting
to drive through water, or people playing in high water. If it is
moving swiftly, even water six inches deep can sweep you off your
feet.
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What to Do if Your Are
Driving During a Flood
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Avoid already flooded areas, and areas subject to sudden
flooding. Do not attempt to cross flowing streams. Most
flood fatalities are caused by people attempting to drive through
water, or people playing in high water. The depth of water is not
always obvious. The roadbed may be washed out under the water, and
you could be stranded or trapped. Rapidly rising water may stall
the engine, engulf the vehicle and its occupants, and sweep them
away. Look out for flooding at highway dips, bridges, and low
areas. Two feet of water will carry away most automobiles.
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If you are driving and come upon rapidly rising waters,
turn around and find another route. Move to higher ground away from
rivers, streams, creeks, and storm drains. If your route is blocked
by flood waters or barricades, find another route.
Barricades are put up by local officials to protect people from
unsafe roads. Driving around them can be a serious risk.
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If your vehicle becomes surrounded by water or the
engine stalls, and if you can safely get out, abandon your vehicle
immediately and climb to higher ground. Many deaths have
resulted from attempts to move stalled vehicles. When a vehicle
stalls in the water, the water's momentum is transferred to the
car. The lateral force of a foot of water moving at 10 miles per
hour is about 500 pounds on the average automobile. The greatest
effect is buoyancy - for every foot that water rises up the side of
a car, it displaces 1,500 pounds of the car's weight. So, two feet
of water moving at 10 miles per hour will float virtually any car.
Many persons have been swept away by flood waters upon leaving
their vehicles, which are later found without much damage. Use
caution when abandoning your vehicle, and look for an opportunity
to move away quickly and safely to higher ground.
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What to Do After a Flood or
Flash Flood
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Seek necessary medical care at the nearest hospital or
clinic. Contaminated flood waters lead to a greater
possibility of infection. Severe injuries will require medical
attention.
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Help a neighbor who may require special assistance -
infants, elderly people, and people with disabilities.
Elderly people and people with disabilities may require additional
assistance. People who care for them or who have large families may
need additional assistance in emergency situations.
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Avoid disaster areas. Your presence might
hamper rescue and other emergency operations, and put you at
further risk from the residual effects of floods, such as
contaminated waters, crumbled roads, landslides, mudflows, and
other hazards.
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Continue to listen to a NOAA Weather Radio or local
radio or television stations and return home only when authorities
indicate it is safe to do so. Flood dangers do not end
when the water begins to recede; there may be flood-related hazards
within your community, which you could hear about from local
broadcasts.
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Stay out of any building if flood waters remain around
the building. Flood waters often undermine foundations,
causing sinking, floors can crack or break and buildings can
collapse.
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Avoid entering ANY building (home, business, or other)
before local officials have said it is safe to do so.
Buildings may have hidden damage that makes them unsafe. Gas leaks
or electric or waterline damage can create additional problems.
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Report broken utility lines to the appropriate
authorities. Reporting potential hazards will get the
utilities turned off as quickly as possible, preventing further
hazard and injury. Check with your utility company now about where
broken lines should be reported.
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Avoid smoking inside buildings. Smoking in
confined areas can cause fires.
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When entering buildings, use extreme caution.
Building damage may have occurred where you least expect it. Watch
carefully every step you take.
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Wear sturdy shoes. The most common injury
following a disaster is cut feet.
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Use battery-powered lanterns or flashlights when
examining buildings. Battery-powered lighting is the
safest and easiest, preventing fire hazard for the user, occupants,
and building.
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Examine walls, floors, doors, staircases, and windows to
make sure that the building is not in danger of
collapsing.
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Inspect foundations for cracks or other damage.
Cracks and damage to a foundation can render a building
uninhabitable.
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Look for fire hazards. There may be broken or
leaking gas lines, flooded electrical circuits, or submerged
furnaces or electrical appliances. Flammable or explosive materials
may travel from upstream. Fire is the most frequent hazard
following floods.
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Check for gas leaks. If you smell gas or hear a
blowing or hissing noise, open a window and quickly leave the
building. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can and
call the gas company from a neighbor's home. If you turn off the
gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a
professional.
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Look for electrical system damage. If you see
sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell burning
insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or
circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to the fuse
box or circuit breaker, call an electrician first for advice.
Electrical equipment should be checked and dried before being
returned to service.
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Check for sewage and waterline damage. If you
suspect sewage lines are damaged, avoid using the toilets and call
a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water company
and avoid using water from the tap. You can obtain safe water from
undamaged water heaters or by melting ice cubes.
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Watch out for animals, especially poisonous snakes, that
may have come into buildings with the flood waters. Use a stick to
poke through debris. Flood waters flush snakes and many
animals out of their homes.
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Watch for loose plaster, drywall, and ceilings that
could fall.
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Take pictures of the damage, both of the building and
its contents, for insurance claims.
After returning home:
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Throw away food that has come in contact with flood
waters. Some canned foods may be salvageable. If the cans
are dented or damaged, throw them away. Food contaminated by flood
waters can cause severe infections.
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If water is of questionable purity, boil or add bleach,
and distill drinking water before using. (See information
on water treatment under the "Disaster Supplies Kit" section.)
Wells inundated by flood waters should be pumped out and the water
tested for purity before drinking. If in doubt, call your local
public health authority. Ill health effects often occur when people
drink water contaminated with bacteria and germs.
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Pump out flooded basements gradually (about one-third of
the water per day) to avoid structural damage. If the
water is pumped completely in a short period of time, pressure from
water- saturated soil on the outside could cause basement walls to
collapse.
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Service damaged septic tanks, cesspools, pits, and
leaching systems as soon as possible. Damaged sewage
systems are health hazards.
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