Understanding and Preparing for Floods

Flooding is a serious concern for homeowners, especially those living near rivers, lakes, or canals. Being prepared can significantly reduce the impact on your home and family. This post outlines essential steps to take before, during, and after a flood.

Before a Flood

Preparation is key to minimizing damage and ensuring safety. Here's what you should do:

• Elevate Utilities: Raise your furnace, water heater, and electric panel if your home is susceptible to flooding. This prevents damage to these essential systems.
• Install Check Valves: Install "check valves" in sewer traps to prevent floodwater from backing up into your home's drains.
• Seal Basement Walls: Use waterproofing compounds to seal basement walls and avoid seepage.
• Stay Informed: Listen to the radio or television for information and updates from community officials.
• Know Your Flood Risk: Be aware of streams, drainage channels, canyons, and other areas known to flood suddenly. Flash floods can occur with little warning.
• Community Planning: Contact community officials to find out if they are planning to construct barriers (levees, beams, or floodwalls) to stop floodwater from entering homes in your area.

During a Flood

If evacuation is necessary, remember these critical steps:

• Secure Your Home: If time allows, bring in outdoor furniture and move essential items to an upper floor.
• Turn Off Utilities: If instructed, turn off utilities at the main switches or valves. Disconnect electrical appliances, but avoid touching electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.
• Evacuate Safely:
  • Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet. If you must walk in water, find areas where the water is not moving and use a stick to check the ground's firmness.
  • Do not drive into flooded areas. Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars, causing loss of control and possible stalling. A foot of water can float many vehicles, and two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles, including SUVs and pickup trucks. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon it and move to higher ground if you can do so safely.

After a Flood

Returning home after a flood requires caution. Here are essential steps to take:

• Listen for Official Announcements: Check news reports to confirm the community's water supply is safe to drink.
• Avoid Floodwaters: Floodwaters may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, raw sewage, or be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines.
• Beware of Weakened Roads: Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded, as roads may have weakened and could collapse under the weight of a car.
• Stay Away from Downed Power Lines: Report any downed power lines to the power company immediately.
• Return Home Safely: Return home only when authorities indicate it is safe. Stay out of any building surrounded by floodwaters.
• Use Caution Entering Buildings: Exercise extreme caution when entering buildings, as there may be hidden damage, particularly in foundations.
• Service Damaged Sewage Systems: Service damaged septic tanks, cesspools, pits, and leaching systems as soon as possible, as they are serious health hazards.
• Clean and Disinfect: Clean and disinfect everything that got wet, as mud left from floodwater can contain sewage and chemicals.

Understanding Flood Alerts

Familiarize yourself with these terms to help identify a flood hazard:

• Flood Watch: Flooding is possible. Tune in to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.
• Flash Flood Watch: Flash flooding is possible. Be prepared to move to higher ground; listen to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.
• Flood Warning: Flooding is occurring or will occur soon; if advised to evacuate, do so immediately.
• Flash Flood Warning: A flash flood is occurring; seek higher ground on foot immediately.

By taking these precautions, you can better protect yourself, your family, and your property from the devastating effects of flooding.