Your New Handy Checklist For Flood Preparedness
By 911 Water Damage Experts
Floods are one of the most common natural disaster events in the world, and they don’t usually sneak up on anyone. Many signs can point to a flood being on the horizon, and most people have plenty of warning to make a plan and take action.
However, suppose you’re not aware of how to be prepared. In that case, it can be much harder to manage a flooding situation in the most stress-free way possible.
Before you’re caught out in the next challenging weather event, make sure you’ve ticked the following things off your list.
Keep An Eye On Weather Reports
Technology has made it easier than ever before to access helpful information about the weather patterns we can expect. Just as you might check the forecast to make sure it’s safe to hang your laundry outside, do the same when you notice heavy rain.
Look out for any Wireless Emergency Alerts sent out by the US government, and browse for flooding information from the National Weather Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
If there are social media groups dedicated to weather watches in your area, sign up to see these, as well. The more weather information you can receive, the more informed you might be when there’s a genuine threat of flooding.
Buy An Emergency Weather Radio
While technology can be helpful to remain up to date with weather events, it may not be all that reliable in adverse weather conditions. If you’re worried about bad weather disrupting communication channels and cutting the power off, invest in an emergency weather radio.
They can offer access to weather news channels, have a hand crank function, and many also come with emergency flashlights.
Having an emergency weather radio can ensure that even if your mobile device is flat or the power is out, you won’t be without access to the most up-to-date weather information.
Keep Important Documents Safe
You may never know when you need to leave your home in a hurry, be it for a flooding event or another natural disaster. Prepare for what might happen by keeping all your documents in one secure place.
You might have a safety deposit box that’s watertight and fireproof or a standard cardboard box kept up high. Wherever you keep the box, make sure it contains documents like identification, birth certificates and citizenship documents, marriage papers, wills, property records, insurance policies, and passports.
You might also see the value in making digital copies of these documents if you aren’t able to access them quickly enough when you have to leave your home in a hurry.
Create An Emergency Kit
Even if you don’t think you will ever need to use it, you can enjoy much-needed peace of mind in an emergency if you have an emergency kit full of essentials. These can be all things you need to have with you at all times, should you end up having to leave your home.
Create your kit with non-perishable food, water, a flashlight and spare batteries, a first aid kit, power banks and charging cables for devices, medicine, and food for pets. Putting such items in easy-to-carry bags and boxes can also mean you’re able to exit your home faster with everything you need.
Have A Plan For Your Pets
You might already have an emergency plan for your family, but what about your pets? Make sure you know how to keep them as safe as possible in a situation that will be entirely unfamiliar and scary for them.
Make sure you have enough food and water and medication if they need it. Having a cage or box for small animals, bedding, and a litter box for cats can also be essential.
Given the large number of animals that go missing during adverse weather conditions, consider having them microchipped and keep your information up to date for a quick reunion if someone else locates them.
However, if you know extreme weather is about to hit your area, consider keeping cats and dogs confined inside until the threat has passed. If you have to leave home, research pet-friendly accommodation options, or arrange to stay with friends.
Improve Your Property Drainage
You may never be able to prevent your home from being flooded in an extreme weather event, but small landscaping changes may make a huge difference.
Make sure the ground around your house slopes away from it, and consider DIY dry creek beds and rain gardens to take care of rainwater runoff. Don’t forget to invest in a sump pump to reduce the risk of basement flooding.
Check Your Insurance
Floods are one of the costliest natural disasters in the United States, with millions of dollars of damage each year. Long before you’re at risk of experiencing flood damage on your property, make sure you have flood insurance policies in place.
Read through the fine print to make sure you have complete protection, as standard homeowners’ insurance and renters insurance don’t tend to cover flood damage.
Ensure You Have An Evacuation Plan
Even if you have an emergency kit ready to go at a moment’s notice, it also helps if you have somewhere to go and a safe route to get you there.
Plan an evacuation route in advance, and make sure everyone knows where to meet if not everyone is home at the same time and phone lines are down. Take the safest routes to your destination, rather than the quickest or most direct.
Avoid bridges where possible, and travel on main roads that have been designed to drain water as effectively as possible.
Make Sure Neighbors Are Safe
Even if you don’t know your neighbors very well, it pays to identify those who would be the most vulnerable in an emergency. Senior citizens and those with disabilities may not be able to evacuate their properties as safely as you.
If your own home has family members with special needs, make a plan for how you will cater to them. For example, you might need alternative options for treatment like dialysis and secondary power supplies for machines that aid in daily life.
If you have any questions about flood damage restoration or emergency water removal feel free to call us at 1-833-WE-DRY-IT any time 24/7/365 all the time. We’re there when you need us!
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