This newsletter explains what action to take when you receive a flood watch or warning alert from the National Weather Service. What you need to do before, during and after a flood. Floods are among the most frequent and costly natural disasters in terms of human hardship and economic loss. Flood cause up to 90% of damage related to natural disasters, exluding droughts. Most communities in the United States can experience some kind of flooding.
BEFORE FLOODING STARTS: Make a Flood Plan
Download this 12 page booklet from FEMA and learn “How to prepare for a Flood”
Key Facts about Flood Readiness:
Download this brochure from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and post it in a convenient location in your home, office or place of work.
http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/readiness.asp
♦ Know your flood risk = what causes flooding? www.floodSmart.gov
♦ Make a flood emergency plan www.ready.gov/make-a-plan
♦ Build or restock your emergency preparedness kit, including a flashlight, batteries, cash, and first aid supplies. www.ready.gov/kit
♦ Familiarize yourself with local emergency plans. Know where to go and how to get there should you need to get to higher ground, the highest level of a building, or to evacuate.
FLOOD WATCH = “Be Aware”
Steps to Take:
♦ Turn on your TV/Radio. You will receive the latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
♦ Know where to go. You may need to reach higher ground quickly and on foot.
♦ Build or restock your emergency preparedness kit. Include a flashlight, batteries, cash, and first aid supplies.
Prepare Your Home:
♦ Bring in outdoor furniture and move important indoor items to the highest possible floor.
♦ Disconnect electrical appliances. Do not touch electrical equipment when you are wet. You could be electrocuted.
♦ If instructed, turn off your gas and electricity at the main switch or valve. This helps prevent fires and explosions.
FLOOD WARNING = “Take Action!”
Steps to Take:
♦ Move immediately to higher ground or stay on high ground.
♦ Evacuate if directed.
♦ Avoid walking or driving through flood waters. Turn Around Don’t Drown! ® Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down resulting in injury or death. Stay away from flooded areas as the water may still be rising.
♦ Never play around high water, storm drains, ditches, ravines, or culverts. It is very easy to be swept away by fast moving water.
IF YOU ARE IN A VEHICLE = “Learn what to Avoid”
Do not drive through standing water on roads or in parking lots.
The average automobile can be swept off the road in 12 inches of moving water. Roads covered by water are prone to collapse. Attempting to drive through water also may stall your engine, with the potential to cause irreparable damage if you try to restart the engine. If you come upon a flooded street, take an alternate route.
Take extra precautions if you have to drive through water.
If no alternate route exists and you have no other reasonable alternative but to drive through standing water.
- Do your best to estimate the depth of the water (if other cars are driving through, take note of how deep the water is).
- Drive slowly and steadily through the water.
- Avoid driving in water that downed electrical or power lines have fallen in — electric current passes through water easily.
- Watch for items traveling downstream — they can trap or crush you if you’re in their path.
- If you have driven through water up to the wheel rims or higher, test your brakes on a clear patch of road at low speed. If they are wet and not stopping the vehicle as they should, dry them by pressing gently on the brake pedal with your left foot while maintaining speed with your right foot.
- Stay off the telephone unless you must report severe injuries.
- If your vehicle stalls in the deep water, you may need to restart the engine to make it to safety. Keep in mind that restarting may cause irreparable damage to the engine.
- If you can’t restart your vehicle and you become trapped in rising water, immediately abandon it for higher ground. Try to open the door or roll down the window to get out of the vehicle. If you are unable to get out safely, call 911 or get the attention of a passerby or someone standing on higher ground so that they may call for help.
AFTER A FLOOD = “Be Careful”
How to Recover:
♦ Return home only when authorities say it is safe.
♦ Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded and watch out for debris. Floodwaters often erode roads and walkways.
♦ Throw away all food that has come in contact with flood waters.
♦ Look out for snakes in areas that were flooded. They may have been flushed from their homes.
♦ Avoid creeks & stream banks recently flooded as they may be unstable and can suddenly give way.
♦ Avoid standing water as it may be electrically charges from underground or downed power lines.
♦ Photograph damage to your property for insurance purposes.
Recovering from a Flood:
Download a 56 page booklet from The Red Cross. “Repairing Your Flooded Home” http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4540081_repairingFloodedHome.pdf
Prepared in Partnership between Desert Hot Springs Emergency Preparedness CERT Committee and the Palm Springs Unified School District
www.DHSEPCERT.org – Email: DHSCERT@gmail.com
