http://www.getreadygear.com

Flood Preparation – Plan for Survival

By Jim Serre

http://www.getreadygear.com

Flood Preparation – Plan for Survival

Copyright © 2013 GetReadyGear, Inc.

Of all the natural disasters Mother Nature flings at us, a flood is the most common and the most

devastating – personally, financially and often physically. In the United States alone, floods hold

the distinction of being the country’s “deadliest” weather condition, with about 200 deaths

attributed to the disaster every year.

Very few areas are completely free from the threat of a flood, even in the most arid regions of the

country. Floods can be limited to a particular community or they can be widespread, affecting

entire cities and valleys or large portions of states. They can develop in minutes, hours or days –

so education and preparation are paramount to keeping your family and your property protected.

Types of Floods

Overland or overbank flooding

This is the most common type of flood – the one most people associate with the word. It

typically occurs when inland waterways such as rivers, canals, creeks or streams overflow their

banks due to heavy and prolonged rainstorms, thunderstorms or hurricanes, a rapid snow melt at

higher elevations or a possible levee breach. It can also occur when the amount of water exceeds

the capacity of underground pipes or street-level drains designed to carry flood water away from

urban areas.

http://www.getreadygear.com

The destruction that is caused when a river overflows its banks and spreads across the land

around it can be catastrophic. If the area covered is wide and flat, the water tends to spread out,

appearing as slow-moving or not moving at all. In valleys, flood water has nowhere to go but

forward, which causes it to move faster. Either scenario is devastating to anyone and anything on

a flood plain.

Flash floods

Floods of this type are particularly dangerous because of the suddenness and speed with which

they occur. They’re most often associated with intense rainfall in a localized area, but all are

characterized by an extremely fast rise in water level, high velocity and large amounts of debris,

mud and rocks.

They are capable of tearing out trees, bushes and other undergrowth, undermining buildings and

bridges and carving new channels in stream beds. Major factors in flash flooding include the

duration of rainfall and their own intensity, which is affected by the steepness of the watershed

feeding the stream and the gradient of the stream itself. The surface speed of the rushing water

often conceals its actual depth and strength.

Coastal floods

Extreme wind storms (typhoons, hurricanes, Nor’easters or tropical cyclones) often cause serious

flooding along the shoreline, especially when combined with storm surges and high waves.

Heavy rainfall also aggravates the problem by causing a rise in sea level.

The most intense storms have higher wind speeds, which drive greater amounts of water across

the shallow continental shelf. This surge increases the volume and elevation of water pushed up

against the coast. Even areas with mild slopes and shallow depths can experience heavy flooding.

http://www.getreadygear.com

Ice jam flooding

In extremely cold temperatures, lakes, rivers and reservoirs are often frozen. Heavy precipitation

can cause large chunks of surface ice to push together and create an immovable dam. Water

builds up behind this dam, eventually spilling over onto any flat ground nearby.

When the wall of ice finally breaks up, fast-moving water rushes downstream much like a

conventional flash flood, destroying everything in its path. The water also carries huge chunks of

ice, which can increase damage along its route.

Structural failures

An inadequately constructed or poorly maintained dam or levee will not be able to withstand the

pressure from great amounts of water building up behind it. The structure eventually gives way

at its weakest spot, instantly flooding nearby areas and spreading further onto the land.

Are you at risk?

Be aware of flood hazards no matter where you live or work, but especially if you are in low-

lying areas, near any body of water, river, stream, dry creek bed, behind a levee or downstream

from a dam. Even very small streams, gullies, creeks, culverts or low-lying ground that appear

harmless in dry weather can flood.

Unfortunately, there are no absolute characteristics defining a flood plain – most areas are at risk

for flooding. It’s up to you to know if your property will be safe from flooding during a heavy or

prolonged storm and if not, how to correctly insure your property. Here are a couple of ways to

see where your property stands when it comes to possible flooding.

Check with your local government agency to see if flood zone maps are available for

your area. Most counties and towns will have such maps available for public view or on a

website. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides copies of

updated flood zone maps to most communities on a regular basis.

FEMA also features a flood map service that allows you to input your address, a place or

longitude/latitude coordinates for information on flood hazards in your area. Once the

program locates the correct topographical map, you can access it online or download it

for further reference. The map will highlight flood zone areas and the levels of risk in

each one. It will also feature details about which type of flood insurance will best protect

your property in the event of flooding.

Freeflood.net offers a similar service, although you will have to register for a free account

before being able to search. This site is handy if you’re planning a move in the near or

distant future, as it provides information on floodplains up to 500 years old. However,

this is general geographical information – not for determining what type of flood

insurance you may or may not need.

http://www.getreadygear.com

I’m at risk, what next?

Despite the fact that your homeowner’s insurance policy may cover interior flooding due to

broken or frozen pipes, water leaking into the basement through the foundation, faulty plumbing

equipment or a loose appliance hose – it will not cover flood damage to your property.

Call your insurance agent and ask about FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

FEMA has placed more than 20,000 communities into specific categories of flood zones and

each of these communities is able to participate in the NFIP. Premium flood insurance rates are

determined by how high or low the risk of flooding is in different areas of the country. The

Federal Alliance for Save Homes (FLASH) website outlines the differences in FEMA-designated

flood zones.

While flood insurance isn't federally required, anyone can be financially vulnerable to floods.

Homeowners who live well outside of mapped high-risk flood areas file nearly one-quarter of all

NFIP flood insurance claims. So even if you feel the area you live in is safely outside a flood

zone, ask your insurance agent about carrying a preferred risk policy on your property. These

policies offer building and contents coverage at the lowest premiums available through the NFIP.

Floodsmart.gov contains a wealth of information on the NFIP and explains the types of coverage

available for homes and businesses. It offers resources to locate insurance agents, community

and government links about floods and insurance, outlines flood risks and provides another

online tool to rate your risk level and estimate insurance premiums.

http://www.getreadygear.com

How to prepare, respond and recover

First steps

Your family may not be together when a flood strikes, so it is important to know exactly how all

of you will get to a safe place, be able to contact each other and how you will get back together.

Discuss all preparation steps with your family and make sure they all know what to do in

case of flooding. Including your kids in these steps will help them respond quickly and

can reduce fears or anxiety about the situation.

Learn about your community's emergency plans, including early warning signals,

mapped evacuation routes and the locations of nearby emergency shelters. Make a few

trial runs of the evacuation routes with your family so there’s no hesitation or guesswork.

Learn the emergency plans of places where your family spends time: work, school and

daycare centers, after school activity centers and public transportation hubs, if applicable.

You’ll be better prepared to reunite your family members during an emergency if you’re

informed in advance.

Ask an out-of-town friend or relative to be your contact person in case your family is

separated during a flood and make sure every family member knows the person’s name,

address and phone number.

Let your local emergency personnel know if any member of your family is elderly,

disabled or bedridden in case you need help getting them to safety.

If you must go to a public shelter, your pets may not be allowed inside, so make advance

plans for alternate shelters for them. If friends or family members who live outside of

your area cannot take in all of you, ask if they would be willing to shelter your pets

during the emergency.

If you keep your pets with you, make sure their identification tags are up-to-date and

securely fastened to each collar. If possible, attach the address and/or phone number of

your evacuation site to the collar – if your pet gets lost in the confusion, this is his or her

ticket back to you.

Have a licensed electrician raise electric switches, sockets, circuit breakers and wiring at

least one foot above your home's projected flood height. Learn how to turn off your

electricity, gas and water before there is standing water in your home or nearby fallen

power lines and do this before you evacuate.

Have a plumber install backflow valves or plugs in drains, toilets and other sewer

connections to prevent floodwater from entering the system.

Anchor anything of value or importance that may be swept away by floodwaters and

move personal possessions to your second or third floor, if applicable.

Keep insurance policies, legal documents and other important papers and valuables in a

waterproof safe-deposit box in case you need quick, easy access to these items. Keep

them in a safe place that is unlikely to be damaged during a flood.

http://www.getreadygear.com

FEMA has a downloadable family communications plan that can be filled out and printed before

distributing it to your family members and friends via email or hard copy.

Build a disaster supplies kit

Wherever you’ll be able safely ride out a flood, putting together a portable disaster supplies

kit containing basic household items will come in handy. Assemble the kit well in advance of

any emergency, so if you have to evacuate on short notice you’ll be able to take the essentials

with you.

The worst scenario means having to survive on your own immediately following a flood and that

entails having enough food, water and other supplies to last for up to three days for each member

of your family and any four-legged relatives. Local officials and relief workers cannot reach

everyone immediately and basic utility and phone services may be down.

Always include a battery-powered radio or small TV and plenty of extra batteries in your disaster

kit so you can monitor emergency broadcasts. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA) features a constantly updated weather and emergency service through a

nationwide network of government-operated radio stations.

Don’t forget your pet(s) needs when it comes to being prepared. Pack up a separate pet survival

kit, including food, bottled water, vet records and necessary medications, cat litter/pan, a manual

can opener, lightweight plastic food/water containers and recent photos for identification

purposes. Include a sturdy pet carrier and leash for each pet, especially if you’ll have to spend

time in a shelter.

During a flood

If you come upon flood waters while evacuating on foot or in a vehicle, turn around and make

your way to higher ground. Moving water shallow as six inches can knock you off your feet.

And vehicles can be swept away in less than two feet of water.

Be aware of nearby streams, drainage channels, canyons and other areas known to flood

suddenly. Flash floods can occur in these areas with or without typical warnings such as

rain clouds or heavy rain.

Never leave your pets behind if you are told to evacuate. You have no idea when you’ll

be able to return and your pets might not be able to survive on their own for any length of

time. Even if they manage to escape rising or standing floodwaters or your home, you

might not be able to find them when you return.

If you do not have to evacuate your home, avoid contact with any flood water, which can

contain high levels of contamination from raw sewage and other hazardous or toxic

substances. Always take the following precautions during a flood and afterwards during

cleanup:

Always wash your hands before drinking and eating

Shower or bathe frequently, preferably using a solid or liquid disinfecting soap

Immediately apply first aid to any cuts or wounds, then have them examined as soon as

possible by a medical professional

http://www.getreadygear.com

Report any and all symptoms of illness – typhoid is a real danger during floods

Keep all vaccinations current – for your family members and your pets

More information

Here are several websites containing important information, links, tips and tools that will help

you before, during and after a flood:

American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/flood

Federal Emergency Management Agency: http://www.fema.gov/plan-prepare-mitigate

Ready: http://www.ready.gov/floods

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/

United States Environmental Protection

Agency: http://www.epa.gov/naturalevents/flooding.html

National Disaster Education Coalition: http://www.disastercenter.com/guide/flood.html

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/

Large or small, floods can have devastating effects on your home and your family, but by

making the right moves in advance, you’ll be able to see your loved ones safely through this

emergency and back into your home with a minimum of danger and little possibility of harm.

Don't wait... assess your risk now and make the necessary preparations. Hopefully, you'll be

wasting your time, but you don't want to bet your family's safety on that hope.

Jim Serre has over 30 years of engineering, process safety management consulting and

corporate training experience. He has over 7 years of Cal EMA qualified Search & Rescue

experience and has provided Emergency Training to thousands of citizens in neighborhoods,

businesses and faith-based groups. He is a certified instructor for FEMA’s Community

Emergency Response Team training; a Disaster Services instructor for the American Red Cross;

and an ASHI qualified CPR/First Aid instructor. Additionally, his knowledge of survival and

preparedness skills make him uniquely qualified to design emergency kits that can save your life.

For more emergency preparedness information and training capabilities see his website at

www.getreadygear.com.