|
Before a Flood
If you live in a flood-prone area, follow this checklist before a flood occurs.
-
Make sure each person in the family knows the phone numbers of your community’s emergency departments (Fire, Ambulance, Sheriff, Police), the community’s warning
signals, and which radio station to tune to in the event of an emergency.
-
Move important items (such as medical equipment/medicines, important family papers, jewelry, electronics, food, livestock, etc.) to the highest location possible.
-
Photograph or videotape your possessions, even if you do not have flood insurance.
-
Create an emergency evacuation plan using the safest and highest routes to predetermined places, and practice it with everyone in the family.
-
Inform friends and relatives of your emergency plans, as well as where you will go and how they can reach you in the event of an evacuation.
-
Know how to turn off utilities such as gas, propane, electricity and water.
-
Secure fuel and propane tanks to prevent them from floating away.
-
Stock one or more portable, water-tight containers with emergency supplies and store them in an easily accessible, high area:
candles and waterproof matches
flashlights and extra batteries
first aid kit
battery-operated radio
extra set of house and vehicle keys
credit cards and cash
non-perishable food
non-electric can-opener
sturdy shoes and warm clothing
essential medicines and prescription glasses
-
Set aside seven gallons of drinking water per person (enough for one week).
-
Install septic back-up valves and sump pumps to prevent sewage and flood waters from backing up in sewer drains.
-
Keep vehicle fuel tanks full.
After a Flood: Home Tips
In the event of a flood, these steps could minimize flood damage to your home:
-
Open all drawers, cabinet doors, and room doors (to prevent them from swelling and sticking
shut)
-
Remove furnace and gas burners to prevent clogging by sediment.
-
Remove motors from equipment that can't be moved (such as furnaces).
-
Unplug electricity cords and disconnect gas lines to dryers and refrigerators to prevent breakage if the appliance floats.
-
If additional time is available and electrical power is disconnected, remove wall receptacles to prevent siltation and enable faster restoration of power.
-
Move or raise to a higher level the supplies and equipment that will be needed for cleanup (such as mops, hoses, gloves, boots, detergents, lubricants, etc.).
-
Block drains with large corks or plugs and turn off all faucets to prevent contamination of clean water sources.
After a Flood: Property Tips
In the event of a flood on your property:
-
DO NOT touch the water. It could be contaminated with dangerous microbes or electrically
charged.
-
If possible, stop or attempt to slow the source of the water problem.
-
If valves are still accessible, turn off electric circuits at the fuse panel, gas and propane service at the meter or main entry, and water at the main valve.
-
Contact your insurance agent immediately.
-
Open windows and doors (if it is not raining outside) to help dry out the area.
-
Open drawers, interior doors, and cabinets.
-
Take photographs or videotape the area before and during the flood for insurance purposes.
|
