Flood Preparedness

Floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States and can occur anywhere. A flood is a general or temporary condition where two or more acres of normally dry land area or two or more properties are inundated by water or mudflow. Floods can be caused by many different conditions including hurricanes or storms, storm surge, heavy rain, prolonged rain, failure of dams, above average rainfall, or inadequate drainage. The impact can be small, only affecting a few properties, or very large, affecting entire communities. Some floods develop slowly, over a period of days or even weeks, while others like flash floods, can develop as quickly as within a few minutes. To protect yourself from flooding, you can:

• Elevate the furnace, water heater and electric panel in your home if you live in an area that has a high flood risk.
• Consider installing "check valves" to prevent flood water from backing up into the drains of your home.
• If there is a possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground. Six inches of moving water can make you fall.
• For your health, avoid floodwaters as the water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline or raw sewage.
• Do not drive into flooded areas. You and the vehicle can be swept away quickly.

For more information on flood preparedness click here.