Floods: How to be Ready

2/23/2017 (Permalink)

Photo:Courtesy of Bill Walsh 2011 Binghamton Flood. SERVPRO Southside Building.

There are several times throughout the year when there is potential for flooding. Examples would be melting snow, heavy rain fall for a long period of time, and quick heavy rain that can cause flash flooding. Please read below on how to be prepared and how to stay safe during a flood emergency.

What you can do before the flood

• Know your flood risk.
• Make a flood emergency plan.
• Build or restock your emergency preparedness kit, including a flashlight, batteries, cash, and first aid supplies.
• Consider buying flood insurance.
• 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.

Stay tuned to your phone alerts, TV, or radio for weather updates, emergency instructions, or evacuation orders.

Basic Flood Safety Tips:

• Turn Around, Don’t Drown! ®
• Avoid walking or driving through flood waters.
• Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and 2 feet of water can sweep your vehicle away.
• If there is a chance of flash flooding, move immediately to higher ground. Flash floods are the #1 cause of weather-related deaths in the US.
• If floodwaters rise around your car but the water is not moving, abandon the car and move to higher ground. Do not leave the car and enter moving water.
• Avoid camping or parking along streams, rivers, and creeks during heavy rainfall. These areas can flood quickly and with little warning. Please visit Ready.gov for more information on how to stay prepared for all types of emergencies!

Our region is an area that has flooded in the past, and has the potential to flood again the future. It is extremely important to know how to stay safe during a flood emergency, and also how to prepare in advance of a flood.