|
|
|
 |
Receive news and special offers!
Enter your email address here:
|
 |
EmergencyMatters.com carries a selection of emergency preparedness products, survival & outdoor gear, and food storage necessities. Our goal is to make sure you've got what you need to make it through any situation. From an afternoon hike to an earthquake, we've got what you need.
|
|
According to FEMA, floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States. Every state is prone to flooding, because even a small creek can overflow and cause flooding.
You need to be aware of the flood risks in your area. The National Weather Service (NWS) will issue a FLOOD WATCH any time that current and developing conditions are such "that there is a threat of flooding, but the occurrence is neither certain nor imminent”.
A FLOOD WARNING is issued to inform the public of flooding, especially where there is a serious threat to life or property, or a flood is imminent within an hour.
Before the Flood
- Have your family plan for what you will do in the event of a flood.
- Put together an emergency kit. Be sure to keep this kit in a place where it will be easy for you to grab, and will stay out of the water.
A Flood Emergency Kit should contain :
Note: This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, but will be a great start for you.
1 gallon of water per day (per person)
Water Bottle (per person)
Water Purifier or filtration system. I like to carry a filter and some tablets. You can use bleach or iodine tablets.
3 day supply of food based on a 2,000 calorie diet(per person)
First-aid Kit
Weather appropriate clothing
Flashlight with working batteries; even better is a flashlight with a hand-crank or solar powered charger
Whistle
Cash
Sewing Kit- Needle and thread
Compass
Firestarter
Dust mask
Towlette
Toilet Paper
Hand Wipes
Garbage Bags
Wrench, pliers, or a multitool
Maps
Cell Phone with hand crank charger
Paracord or rope
Survival Knife
Duct Tape
Gloves
Radio, ideally with a hand-crank
Signaling Equipment
Tent large enough to fit your family
Copies of important documents: things like your social security cards, ID cards, birth certificates, marriage certificates.
Rain Gear
- Get your home ready for a flood. It is especially helpful to elevate your furnace, water heater, and electric panel. Also, FEMA recommends that you install "check valves" in sewer traps to prevent floodwater from backing up into the drains of your home.
If you think that a flood is likely:
Listen for flood watches or warnings. If there is a possibility of a flash flood, get out.
During the Flood
- If you need to evacuate, lock the doors and secure your house.
- Take all important documents with you or keep them in a safe deposit box, and move family pictures up high, or to the second level of your home.
- Turn off utilities if instructed to do so. Disconnect electrical appliances. But, do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or in water.
- If you come upon flood waters, stop, turn around, and go another way. Climb to higher ground, but do not walk through moving water. It only takes six inches of moving water to make you fall. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving. A stick can help you check the firmness of the ground in front of you. Stay away from creek and stream banks in flooded and recently flooded areas.
- Do not drive into flooded areas. If floodwater rises around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground, if you can do so safely. You and the vehicle can be quickly swept away. Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles (including SUVs and trucks).
After the Flood
- Throw away any food that has come into contact with flood water. Flood water contains bacteria and germs.
- Listen for news reports to learn whether your community’s water supply is safe to drink.
- Stay away from floodwater; it may be contaminated. Water may also be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines.
- Stay away from downed power lines, and report them to the power company. Reporting hazards will get the utilities turned off as quickly as possible, preventing further hazard and injury.
- Return home only when authorities indicate it is safe.
- Stay out of any building surrounded by flood water. Flood water often undermines the foundation of a building. There may be hidden damage that you can't see in the foundation.
- Clean and disinfect everything that came into contact with flood water. Mud left from flood water may contain sewage and chemicals.
If you are looking for a really good checklist, you can follow this link to a printable one from the Red Cross HERE.
|
|
|
