How to Prepare for Individual Floods

The National Weather Service releases flood advisories, watches and warnings to alert the public when flood danger exists so it can prepare. When the NWS releases an advisory or watch, take the short-term actions that stem from long-term planning tasks, like creating a family emergency plan, building an emergency kit and buying flood insurance, that prepare you for floods in general. These short-term actions ensure your readiness for an individual flood event.

Instructions

• 1

  Prepare the food and beverage items for your emergency kit. Purchase or fill gallon jugs of water. You need 5 gallons per person. Also, purchase a three- to five-day supply of nonperishable food.

• 2

  Double-check your emergency kit to ensure that it has an adequate amount of prescription medications, as well as copies of the prescription, extra batteries and fresh baby formula, if necessary.

• 3

  Prepare for possible evacuation by filling your vehicle's gas tank. If you do not have a vehicle, alert the alternate means of transportation identified in your emergency plan that an advisory or watch has been issued for your area.

• 4

  Bring inside or tie down any outdoor items, including lawn furniture, trash bins and grills. Unsecured items can wash away in a flood, creating additional hazards.

• 5

  Use bleach to sanitize all sinks and tubs in your home, then rinse them. Fill each bathtub and sink with clean water. Also, fill any empty plastic soda bottles after having cleaned them. Use this water for sanitation purposes, so you can use all of the bottled potable water you purchased for the emergency kit for drinking, if you are not advised to evacuate.

• 6

  Monitor flood conditions by listening to a weather radio, watching local television stations or visiting the NWS website. If the NWS issues a flood warning with evacuation instructions, turn off your utilities using the electrical main and/or main gas valve; then, evacuate.