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Devastating floods occur throughout the U.S. every year. The affects often include contaminated drinking water supplies, disrupted electrical service and damage to home and contents. About ninety percent of all presidentially declared natural disasters involve flooding.
Flooding is usually divided into two categories: flash flooding and river flooding. Both can cause death, injury and property destruction.
The majority of deaths from flooding occur when people become trapped in automobiles that stall while driving through flooded areas. Nearly half of all flood fatalities are vehicle-related.
How Floods are Formed
Several factors contribute to flooding. The two key elements are rainfall intensity and duration. Intensity is the rate of rainfall, and duration is how long the rain lasts. Topography, soil conditions, and ground cover also play an important role.
What is a Flash Flood?
Intense rainfall in a brief period leaves more water than the ground can absorb. When this happens, flash flooding can occur.
Flash floods are usually caused by slow-moving thunderstorms or thunderstorms that move over the same area one after the other. Flash floods usually occur within six hours of heavy rainfall and is usually more life threatening, according to the National Weather Service.
Flash floods occur with little or no warning, move at very fast speeds and can reach a peak in a few minutes. They can roll rocks, tear out trees, sweep away cars and trucks, and destroy buildings and bridges. Rapidly rising water can reach heights of 30 feet or more. Flash flood-producing rains can also trigger catastrophic mudslides. You will not always have a warning that these deadly, sudden floods are coming. Most flood deaths are due to flash floods.
Assess Your Property and Plan Ahead
Taking precautions long before storm clouds start to form is the best answer for minimizing damage from foul or extreme weather such as windstorms, hurricanes and tornadoes.
Many recommended risk-reduction measures require a minimal amount of time and money to accomplish and can dramatically lessen the costs in dollars and lives according to mitigation experts at the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The first step is to walk around your property. By asking yourself, "what could go wrong here?" you are well on your way to developing a list that should reduce or minimize severe weather damage.
Here are a few things you can do:
- Keep outdoor gear from becoming windborne missiles. High velocity winds can turn patio furniture, grills and tree branches into destructive missiles. Check the area immediately surrounding your house for unsecured or potentially dangerous conditions. Tree limbs, outbuildings, trash cans, yard debris, or other materials that can be moved by the wind, are potential projectiles aimed at your home or parked vehicle.
All storage sheds and other outbuildings should be securely anchored, either to a permanent foundation or with straps and ground anchors. The straps and ground anchors used for manufactured homes can be used for the anchoring systems for outbuildings, such as garden sheds, which are not placed on a permanent foundation. Outdoor furniture and barbecue grills can be secured by bolting them to decks or patios or by attaching them to ground anchors with cables or chains.
Even trash cans can be secured with cables or chains attached to ground anchors or to wood posts firmly embedded in the ground.
Reinforce vulnerable areas. High winds can damage garage doors or even blow them in. If wind enters a garage it can cause dangerous and expensive structural damage to the home. A garage door can be reinforced by adding braces across the back of the door and by strengthening the glider wheel tracks. If the existing door is old or damaged, it should be replaced with a stronger door and tracks. These modifications should be done only by a trained garage-door systems technician. If your home is under construction, look into purchasing a garage door built to withstand high winds.
Anticipate damaged tree threats. Tall leafy oaks and maples beautify yards and cool homes with their shade, but they also can provide the ammunition for flying debris to break windows, crush walls and puncture roofs. Proper maintenance and siting of trees will minimize tree loss and home damage.
The surest way to prevent storm damage on a home from falling trees is to locate trees far enough away from your house that they can't fall on it. The distance between your house and any nearby tree should be greater than the height the tree will reach when it is fully grown.
Proper care of trees can also prevent storm damage. Three-fourths of the damage that trees incur during storms is predictable and preventable. Trees with wounds, decay, structural defects, stem girdling roots, severed roots and soil compaction are prime targets for experiencing storm damage.
Emergency Communication Plan
- Make sure that all family members know how to respond to any storm or flood alert/warning.
- Establish a family plan and have a disaster kit ready should you need it; meet up with family members at the designated emergency meeting area.
- Reserve an out of state or non- resident in your area relative or friend as a designated contact person.
Before a Flood Warning or Watch Occurs
Be prepared to respond to flooding by taking the following actions before the rains and flooding begin:
- Find out if you live in a flood prone area from your local emergency management, public works, building or planning department. Find out whether your property is above or below flood level.
- Be aware of your communities warning system for flooding.
- Assemble emergency supply kits for your home, place of work, and vehicle.
- Have disaster supplies on hand. Store the following materials for protecting your home in a location away from potential flooding:
- Sandbags
- Plastic sheeting
- Plywood
- Lumber
- Store a seven-day supply of water (at least one gallon per person, per day) in closed, clean containers.
- Teach children not to play in or near rivers, streams, or other areas of potential flooding.
- Maintain fuel in your cars; electrical outages might make gasoline pumps inoperable.
- Identify a safe evacuation plan and routes from your home or work place to high, safe ground. Determine whether you can use these routes during flooding or storms. Be familiar with your geographic surroundings.
- Clear debris and overgrowth from on-site drainage facilities.
- Notify your local department of public works about debris and overgrowth in public drainage facilities.
- Work with neighbors to solve potential drainage problems and to avoid diverting debris onto their properties. Consult a licensed civil engineer if you’re in doubt.
- Identify an out-of-state contact so that friends and relatives can obtain information about your condition and whereabouts.
When there’s a Flood Warning or Watch
- Relocate valuables from lower to upper floors.
- Be prepared to move to a safe area, before flood waters cut off access, when local authorities advise.
- Disconnect all electrical appliances or turn off electric circuits at the fuse panel or circuit breaker panel before evacuating.
During a Flood
Here are several simple guidelines from FLASH and the National Weather Service to help you and your family stay safe in flooding situations:
- Avoid unnecessary trips.
- Do not drive or walk through moving water. (A car can float in three inches of water.) Avoid areas already flooded, especially if the water is flowing fast. Never try to cross flowing streams.
- Do not camp or park your vehicle along rivers, streams or washes, particularly during threatening conditions.
- If flooding occurs, get to higher ground. Stay away from areas subject to flooding like low spots, valleys, canyons or washes.
- Use the phone only to report dangerous conditions or emergencies that are life threatening. Report damaged utilities to the appropriate agencies.
- Never let your children play near flooded streams, storm drains, bayous, roads, rivers or creeks.
- Never drive through flooded roadways. Road beds or bridges may be washed out under flood waters.
- Never drive around the barriers that warn you the road is flooded.
- Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers.
- Do not “sightsee” or enter restricted areas.
If Indoors
- Turn on battery-operated radio or television to get the latest emergency information.
- Get your preassembled emergency supplies.
- If you are told to leave, do so immediately.
If Outdoors
- Climb to high ground and stay there.
- Avoid walking through any floodwaters. If it is swiftly, even water 6 inches deep can sweep feet.
If in a Car
- If you come to a flooded area, turn around in go the other.
- If your car stalls, leave it immediately and climb to higher ground.
During an Evacuation
- If advised to evacuate, do so immediately
- Have a battery operated radio available to listen to further evacuation instructions.
- Do not try to take short cuts. They may be closed off.
- Leave early enough to avoid being marooned by flooded roads.
Storms
Hurricane
- Make sure your windows are protected and home is secured.(before storm)
- Stay inside and away from windows, skylights, and glass doors. Find a safe place in your home(closet, bathroom, something on a lower level).(during storm)
Tornadoes
- Look for danger signs.(before storm)
- Watch out for flying debris. Debris causes most injuries.(during storm)
Thunderstorm
- Remember the 30/30 lightning safety rule: Go indoors if, after seeing lightning, you cannot count to 30 before hearing thunder. Stay indoors for 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder(before a storm).
- Seek shelter in a low area under a thick growth of small trees (if you’re out in the open during storm).
After a Storm
- Listen to the radio or watch television for information and instructions from local officials. Remain indoors until official “all clear” is given.
- Avoid going into disaster areas or driving, as roads may be blocked.
- Avoid downed power lines, other metal objects or broken glass even if they look harmless. Call your utility companies to restore service.
- Watch for weakened roads, bridges, tree limbs, etc, which could collapse unexpectedly.
- Do not use fresh or canned foods that have come in contact with flood waters.
- Follow the instructions of local officials regarding the safety of drinking water. Boil or purify water if you’re in doubt. Pump out wells and test the water before drinking.
- Use flashlights, rather than lanterns, candles or matches, to check on the condition of buildings. Flammables may be present.
Flood Insurance
Many officials suggest that residents and businesses consider purchasing flood insurance and to have emergency supplies and plans ready. In particular, residents and business owners need to be aware that flood insurance must be purchased ahead of time in order for the policy to be in effect. A minimum 30-day grace period is standard for most flood insurance policies from date of purchase before claims can be made.
Damage and other flooding losses are not covered by most homeowner’s insurance policies. However, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers special flood insurance through its National Flood Insurance Program. Contact your insurance agent or call FEMA at 800-638-6620 or visit FEMA.gov for more information.
If you do incur damage, be certain to take pictures of both to your home and its contents for insurance claims.
If your home, apartment or business has suffered damage, call your insurance company or agent who handles your flood insurance right away to file a claim.
Keep your insurance agent advised if your contact information changes. If you are in a shelter or cannot be easily reached, provide a designated point-of-contact who can reach you.
If you have damage estimates prepared by a contractor, provide them to your insurance adjustor.
If local officials require the disposal of damaged items, take photos and document damages.
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