Floods and Safety

 

The Flood Waters are Coming!

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“Midwestern farm communities have a long history of rallying together for a common cause. The flood of 1993 galvanized communities to protect their infrastructure by filling sandbags to raise levees and clean up the mess when waters receded.”

Eric Keith/St. Joseph News Press

 

Community Preparations

One way communities prepare for flooding is by placing sandbags in high-risk areas. Sandbags, when stacked on top of one another create a wall that is impervious to water. The walls must be built high enough that the water will not overflow. In many cases, sandbagging is unsuccessful due to high rising water, or ground water that swells up inside a sandbag perimeter.

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What YOU Can Do

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In the event of a flood, here are some things you can do to keep yourself, your family, and your neighbors safe.

 

• Create a family or community disaster plan
  Talk with family and neighbors about a disaster plan. Make decisions on how to best notify neighbors and identify those who might need assistance during an evacuation.

 

•  Assemble disaster supplies
  Keep disaster supplies on hand such as water, non-perishable food, money, medications, clothing, toiletries, battery-powered radio, and flashlights. You may also want to keep important documents, photos or other important belongings in one place for easy access in the event of a quick evacuation.
   

• Create an evacuation plan
  Talk with your family and your neighbors and identify the best evacuation route in the event of an emergency. Determine a set rendezvous point where you can meet after evacuating.

 

 

The Flood Waters are Here!

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 Here are some important safety tips for staying safe during a flood.

 

What YOU Should Do

 

• Move to high ground!
  Evacuate if you feel you are at risk, or if you are instructed to do so. Move to higher ground and away from the water.

 

• Stay alert
  Be aware of your surroundings. Listen and look for the sounds and signs of water. Things can change quickly so if you suspect you or others are in danger, it’s important to act fast.

 

• Avoid passing through water, either in a car or on foot
  Avoiding areas that have been flooded is the best way to stay safe. However if you must enter a flooded area remember to wear a life vest, and practice proper boat safety if going into deeper water. Also remember not to drive across a flooded road. It doesn’t take much force to sweep a vehicle off the road!

 

•  Obtain approval before re-entering a flood area.
  For those asked to leave their homes or businesses, it may be tempting to return soon after to assess the flood damage. For your safety, check with proper experts or authorities before returning to flooded area.