NORTH CAROLINA, USA — Hurricane Ian, now a Tropical Storm, made landfall in Florida Wednesday. As North Carolina gets the remnants of Ian, here are some flood safety tips that can be helpful in case of impact.
To prepare for a flood:
- Build an emergency kit.
- Make a family communications plan.
- Do not build in a floodplain unless you raise it up and support your home.
- Raise up the furnace, water heater and electric panel in your home if you live in a high flood risk area.
- Think about putting in "check valves" to prevent flood water from backing up into the drains of your home.
- If you can, build barriers to stop floodwater from entering the building. Seal walls in basements with waterproofing compounds.
During the Flood
If a flood is likely in your area:
- Listen to the radio or television to learn what to do
- Know that flash flooding can occur. If there is any possibility of a flash food, move quickly to higher ground. Do not wait to be told to move.
- Know that streams, drainage channels, canyons and other areas can flood quickly. Flash floods can happen in these areas with or without typical warnings.
If you must leave:
- Secure your home. If you have time, bring in outdoor furniture. Move important items to an upper floor.
- Turn off water, gas and power at the main switches or valves if told to do so. Disconnect electrical appliances. Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.
- 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 floodwaters rise around your car, leave the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely. You and the vehicle can be swept away quickly.
- Do not camp or park your vehicle along streams, rivers, or creeks, particularly during threatening weather.
Recovering from a flood
- Listen to local officials for when it is safe to return home.
- Contact your insurance agent to talk about claims.
- Tune to local media for information on any kind of help that may be given by the state or federal government or other groups
- Stay away from floodwaters. Water may be dirty with oil, gasoline or raw sewage.
- Listen for news reports to learn whether the community's water supply is safe to drink.
- Clean and cleanse everything that got wet. Mud left from floodwaters can contain sewage and chemicals. See Clean Up Tips.
- Keep a manageable schedule. Make a list and do jobs one at a time.
- Check references if you hire cleanup or repair contractors. Be sure they are trained to do the job. Be wary of people who drive through neighborhoods offering help in cleaning up or fixing your home.
Know the terms:
- Flood watch – rainfall is heavy enough to cause rivers to overflow their banks. Flooding is possible.
- Flood warning – flooding is occurring or very likely to happen in an affected river, lake or tidewater area. If told to leave, do so immediately.
- Flash flood watch – flash flooding in specified areas is possible. Be alert! You may need to take quick action.
- Flash flood warning – flash flooding is occurring or is likely to happen along certain streams and select areas. Get to a safe place immediately!