Programs | Helping Hands

Before

To prepare for a flood it is important to:

Remember, if you decide to build your home in a flood plain, you should elevate and reinforce the home.
Keep your furnace, water heater, and electrical panel elevated if you are in an area susceptible to flooding.
Construct barriers to keep flood waters from entering your home.

During

If a flood is likely in your area, you should:

Listen to the radio or television for information.
Be aware that flash flooding can occur. If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground. Do not wait for instructions to move.
Be aware of streams, drainage channels, and other areas known to flood suddenly. Flash floods can occur in these areas with or without such typical warnings as rain clouds or heavy rain.
If you must prepare to evacuate, you should do the following:
Secure your home. If you have time, bring in outdoor furniture. Move essential items to an upper floor.
Turn off utilities at the main switches or valves if instructed to do so.
Disconnect electrical appliances. Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.
If you have to leave your home, remember these evacuation tips:
Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.
Do not drive into flooded areas. If flood waters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely. You and the vehicle can be quickly swept away.

Driving in a Flood

The following are important points to remember when driving in flood conditions:

Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible stalling.
Twelve inches of water is enough to float many vehicles.
Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles, including sport utility vehicles (SUV’s) and pick-ups.

After

Recovering from a flood requires extreme care. After a flood, be sure to:

Find out if the water supply is safe to drink before consuming water.
Avoid flood waters, as they may be contaminated. Also, avoid moving water.
Driving is especially hazardous after a flood. Do not drive through flood waters or in areas where the water may have receded. Areas where the water has receded can be fragile and susceptible to collapsing under the weight of your vehicle.
Only return home after authorities have instructed you to do so.
Do not enter a building surrounded by flood waters.
Be very careful when entering a building damaged by flood waters, as hidden damage is likely and can be extremely dangerous.
Be sure to repair damaged sewage systems, as these can cause serious health risks.
Clean and disinfect everything that got wet during the flood because flood waters may be contaminated.

Flood Safety Measures

You can protect yourself from flood hazards by taking measures to ensure the safety of life and property before, during, and after a flood occurs. If evacuation becomes necessary, be sure that you turn off all utility services at the main connection.

Follow these additional tips to further protect yourself:

Do not walk through flowing water: Drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths, mostly during flash floods. Currents can be deceptive; six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet. If you walk in standing water, use a pole or stick to see how deep the water is.
Do not drive through a flooded area: More people drown in their cars than anywhere else. Do not drive around road barriers; the road or bridges further down the road may be may be washed out.
Stay away from power lines and electrical wires: The number two flood killer after drowning is electrocution. Electric current can travel through water. Report downed power lines to the electricity provider or the county Emergency Management Office.

Storms Preparation -

Infrastructure

For infrastructure like hospital's and school's which are near to any dams, rivers etc the buildings should be built above the flood level so that the water should not enter the building. For roads and highway the roads should observe the water like that the roads construction should be done. For water flow in road there should be a drainage area which should be sloped down so water will flow easily.

Building materials are considered flood-resistant if they can withstand direct contact with flood waters for at least 72 hours without being significantly damaged. Significant damage means any damage that requires more than low-cost, cosmetic repair. Flood-resistant materials should be used for walls, floors and other parts of a home that are below the 100-year flood level. Commonly available flood-resistant materials include concrete, closed-cell and foam insulation, pressure-treated and marine-grade plywood, and ceramic tile. And keep in mind that all hardware used in these areas should be made of stainless or galvanized steel.

Plenty of trees should be planted so water will be observed by it. Esuring that water will not remain stagnant in and around infrastructure , because it will provide home for mosquitoes and fly which causes deadly disease.