Flood safety tips

Drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths and Most drownings occur during flash floods.
Six inches of swiftly moving water
can knock a person off his/her feet.
DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH A FLOODED
AREA-. Don’t drive
around road barriers. They are there
for a reason. Park and wait for water level to drop if it keeps rising get out.
STAY AWAY FROM POWER LINES AND
ELECTRICAL WIRES—Electrocution is
also a major killer in floods. Electrical
current can travel through water.
Report downed power lines to your
utility company or local emergency
manager.
TURN OFF YOUR ELECTRICITY WHEN
YOU RETURN HOME—Some
appliances, such as television sets,
can shock you even after they have
been unplugged. Don’t use
appliances or motors that have
gotten wet until they have been
taken apart, cleaned, and dried.
WATCH FOR ANIMALS, ESPECIALLY
SNAKES—Small wild animals that
have been flooded out of their homes
may seek shelter in yours. Use a pole
or stick to poke and turn items over
and scare away small creatures.
LOOK BEFORE YOU STEP—After a
flood, the ground and floors are
covered with debris, including broken
bottles and nails. And floors and
stairs that have been covered with
mud can be very slippery.
BE ALERT FOR GAS LEAKS—Use a
flashlight to inspect for damage.
Don’t smoke or use candles, lanterns,
or open flames unless you are sure
that the gas has been turned off and
the area has been aired out.
CARBON MONOXIDE EXHAUST KILLS—
Use generators or other gasoline-
powered machines outdoors only.
The same goes for camping stoves.
Fumes from charcoal are especially
deadly; cook with charcoal outdoors
only also.
CLEAN EVERYTHING THAT GOT WET—
Floodwaters have picked up sewage
and chemicals from roads, farms,
factories, and storage buildings.
Spoiled food and flooded cosmetics
and medicines are health hazards.
When in doubt, throw them out.
BE PREPARED FOR A ROUGH TIME—
Recovering from a flood is a big job. It
is rough on both the body and the
spirit. And the after affects of a
disaster on you and your family may
last a long time. Consult a health
professional on how to recognize and
care for anxiety, stress and fatigue.

Find out if you live in a flood-prone
area from your local emergency
management agency and by finding
out the flood history of your area..
-Find out whether your property is
above or below flood level.
-Be aware of your community’s warning
system for flooding.
-Study flood preparation literature and
start putting the information into
practice.
-If you live in an area that is frequently
prone to flooding, stockpile emergency
building materials, including plywood,
plastic sheeting, lumber nails, hammer
and saw, pry bar, shovels, and
sandbags.
-Have check valves installed in building
sewer traps to prevent flood waters
from backing up in sewer drains.
-As a last resort, use large corks or
stoppers to plug showers, tubs, or
basins.
-Have an evacuation plan and route. Be
sure to practice the evacuation
procedures before a true emergency
occurs. Find out what the community’s
evacuation plan is from the local
emergency management agency. This
should contain the safest routes to
shelters. Make sure that you have
several route planned, in case the first
and/or second choices are flooded out.
– your cell phone
-Have disaster supplies on hand.
-Flashlights and extra batteries
-Portable, battery-operated radio and
extra batteries
-First aid kit
-Emergency food and water
-Essential medicines