Understanding and Preparing for Floods: A Homestead Guide

Flooding can be a devastating natural disaster, especially for those living near rivers, lakes, or canals. Being prepared and knowing how to react during and after a flood is crucial for protecting your home and ensuring your safety. This guide provides essential information to help you navigate flood-related challenges.

Preparing Your Home

Before floodwaters threaten your property, take proactive steps to minimize potential damage:

• Elevate Vulnerable Equipment: Raise your furnace, water heater, and electrical panel if your area is prone to flooding. This will prevent costly damage and potential hazards.
• Install Check Valves: Put "check valves" in sewer traps to prevent floodwater from backing up into your home's drains.
• Seal Basement Walls: Apply waterproofing compounds to your basement walls to prevent seepage.
• Stay Informed: Contact community officials to learn about planned flood barriers like levees or floodwalls.
• Monitor Information: Listen to the radio or television for updates and instructions during flood watches and warnings.

Understanding Flood Warnings

Familiarize yourself with these key terms to understand the level of risk and appropriate actions:

• Flood Watch: Flooding is possible. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for updates.
• Flash Flood Watch: Flash flooding is possible. Be ready to move to higher ground and monitor official information sources.
• Flood Warning: Flooding is occurring or imminent. If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.
• Flash Flood Warning: A flash flood is in progress. Seek higher ground on foot without delay.

What to Do During a Flood

If evacuation is necessary, follow these steps to secure your home and ensure your safety:

• Secure Your Home: Bring in outdoor furniture and move essential items to an upper floor if time permits.
• 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, as six inches of moving water can cause you to fall. If you must walk, choose areas where the water is not moving and use a stick to check the ground's firmness.
  • Never drive into flooded areas. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon it and move to higher ground, if possible. Remember, a foot of water can float many vehicles, and two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles.

Actions to Take After a Flood

After the floodwaters recede, proceed with caution and follow these guidelines:

• Stay Informed: Listen to news reports to confirm the safety of the community’s water supply.
• Avoid Floodwaters: Floodwaters may be contaminated with oil, gasoline, raw sewage, or be electrically charged.
• Be Aware of Weakened Roads: 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: Only return home when authorities indicate it is safe to do so. Exercise extreme caution when entering buildings, as there may be hidden damage, especially in foundations.
• Service Damaged Sewage Systems: Address damaged septic tanks, cesspools, and leaching systems as soon as possible to prevent serious health hazards.
• Clean and Disinfect: Thoroughly clean and disinfect everything that got wet, as mud left by floodwater can contain sewage and chemicals.