| Rescue Teams attempt to rescue stranded motorist |
Many areas throughout the country have
potential issues with floods and High water. As
with all potential disaster sources, people need
to tune to their public news and weather to get
information about local problems.
Flood Terms:
Flood Watch
A flood WATCH means a flood is possible in
your area. When a flood watch is issued
through official channels you should move
your furniture and valuables to higher floors of
your home. Fill your car's gas tank, in case an
evacuation notice is issued.
Flood Warning
A flood WARNING means a flood is occurring
or will occur very soon. When a flood warning
is issued through official channels, you should
listen to local radio and TV stations for
information and advice. If told to evacuate,
people should evacuate with their 72 hour kits
to a previously determined place or church as
soon as possible.
Additional Information
The following information was compiled from
the Ready America website regarding floods.
For the latest information from their website,
please visit it at the link.
"Prepare for Flooding
Property insurance does not typically cover
flood damage. Talk to your insurance provider
about your policy and consider if you need
additional coverage.
Get a kit of emergency supplies and prepare a
portable kit in case you have to evacuate.
Familiarize yourself with the terms that are
used to identify a thunderstorm hazard,
including understanding the difference
between a severe thunderstorm watch and a
severe thunderstorm warning.
A flood watch or flash flood watch means there
is a possibility of flooding or a flash flood in
your area.
Be prepared to evacuate.
If time allows, bring in outside furniture and
move your valuables to higher places in your
home. Unplug electrical appliances, moving
them to higher levels, if possible. However, do
not touch an electric appliance if you are wet
or standing in water. If you have a car, fill the
gas tank in case you have to evacuate.
A flood warning means a flood is occurring or
will likely occur soon. If you are advised to
evacuate do so immediately.
A flash flood warning means a flash flood is
occurring. Seek higher ground immediately; do
not wait for instructions.
Visit NOAA Watch for more weather-related
information.
Plan to Evacuate
Plan how you will leave and where you will go if
you are advised to evacuate.
If you do not have a car, plan alternate means
of evacuating. Plan places where your family
will meet, both within and outside of your
immediate neighborhood.
Identify several places you could go in an
emergency, a friend's home in another town, a
motel or public shelter.
If you have a car, keep a half tank of gas in it
at all times in case you need to evacuate.
Continue next Column
potential issues with floods and High water. As
with all potential disaster sources, people need
to tune to their public news and weather to get
information about local problems.
Flood Terms:
Flood Watch
A flood WATCH means a flood is possible in
your area. When a flood watch is issued
through official channels you should move
your furniture and valuables to higher floors of
your home. Fill your car's gas tank, in case an
evacuation notice is issued.
Flood Warning
A flood WARNING means a flood is occurring
or will occur very soon. When a flood warning
is issued through official channels, you should
listen to local radio and TV stations for
information and advice. If told to evacuate,
people should evacuate with their 72 hour kits
to a previously determined place or church as
soon as possible.
Additional Information
The following information was compiled from
the Ready America website regarding floods.
For the latest information from their website,
please visit it at the link.
"Prepare for Flooding
- `Elevate the furnace, water heater, and
electric panel in your home if you live in
an area that has a high flood risk.
- Consider installing "check valves" to
prevent flood water from backing up into
the drains of your home.
- If feasible, construct barriers to stop
floodwater from entering the building
and seal walls in basements with
waterproofing compounds.
Property insurance does not typically cover
flood damage. Talk to your insurance provider
about your policy and consider if you need
additional coverage.
Get a kit of emergency supplies and prepare a
portable kit in case you have to evacuate.
Familiarize yourself with the terms that are
used to identify a thunderstorm hazard,
including understanding the difference
between a severe thunderstorm watch and a
severe thunderstorm warning.
A flood watch or flash flood watch means there
is a possibility of flooding or a flash flood in
your area.
Be prepared to evacuate.
If time allows, bring in outside furniture and
move your valuables to higher places in your
home. Unplug electrical appliances, moving
them to higher levels, if possible. However, do
not touch an electric appliance if you are wet
or standing in water. If you have a car, fill the
gas tank in case you have to evacuate.
A flood warning means a flood is occurring or
will likely occur soon. If you are advised to
evacuate do so immediately.
A flash flood warning means a flash flood is
occurring. Seek higher ground immediately; do
not wait for instructions.
Visit NOAA Watch for more weather-related
information.
Plan to Evacuate
Plan how you will leave and where you will go if
you are advised to evacuate.
If you do not have a car, plan alternate means
of evacuating. Plan places where your family
will meet, both within and outside of your
immediate neighborhood.
Identify several places you could go in an
emergency, a friend's home in another town, a
motel or public shelter.
If you have a car, keep a half tank of gas in it
at all times in case you need to evacuate.
Continue next Column
| Floods & High Water |
NOAA Interactive Flood Map This site has an
incredible interactive map showing the status of
every river in the USA! [click here or image
below]
incredible interactive map showing the status of
every river in the USA! [click here or image
below]
| Resources |
Here are some links throughout the web
regarding this subject of high water and flooding.
regarding this subject of high water and flooding.
By: Staff
Last Reviewed: October 10, 2007
Last Reviewed: October 10, 2007
| Video of the Teton Dam Break north of Rexburg Idaho - 1975. [Click Here for more info] |
| Video Loading ... One Moment Please |
| Video Loading ... One Moment Please |
| Flash Flood Amateur Video |
Become familiar with alternate routes and
other means of transportation out of your area.
Take your emergency supply kit. Lock the
door behind you.(take your 72 hour kit with
you)
Listen to NOAA Weather Radio for information.
Take your pets with you, but understand that
only service animals may be permitted in public
shelters. Plan how you will care for your pets in
an emergency.
If time allows: Call or email the "out-of-state"
contact in your family communications plan.
Tell them where you are going.
Leave a note telling others when you left and
where you are going.
Check with neighbors who may need a ride.
Do not walk through moving water, if possible.
Look for areas where the water is not moving.
What might seem like a small amount of
moving water can easily knock you down.
Do not drive into flooded areas. If your vehicle
becomes surrounded by rising water, get out
quickly and move to higher ground, if possible.
Stay Informed
Local authorities may not immediately be able
to provide information on what is happening
and what you should do. However, you should
listen to NOAA Weather Radio, watch TV,
listen to the radio (such as KSL (1160 AM or
102.7 FM) or KBYU (89.1 FM)) or check the
Internet often for official news and instructions
as they become available.
If it has been raining hard for several hours or
if it has been raining steadily for days there
may be the potential for flooding. Use common
sense and available information. If water is
rising quickly or you see a moving wall of mud
or debris, immediately move to higher ground.
Stay out of flood waters, if possible. The water
may be contaminated or electrically charged.
However, should you find yourself trapped in
your vehicle in rising water get out immediately
and seek higher ground.
Stay away from downed power lines to avoid
the risk of electric shock or electrocution.
Do not return to your home until local
authorities say it is safe. Even after flood
waters recede, roads may be weakened and
could collapse. Buildings may be unstable, and
drinking water may be contaminated. Use
common sense and exercise caution." Source:
Ready America
other means of transportation out of your area.
Take your emergency supply kit. Lock the
door behind you.(take your 72 hour kit with
you)
Listen to NOAA Weather Radio for information.
Take your pets with you, but understand that
only service animals may be permitted in public
shelters. Plan how you will care for your pets in
an emergency.
If time allows: Call or email the "out-of-state"
contact in your family communications plan.
Tell them where you are going.
Leave a note telling others when you left and
where you are going.
Check with neighbors who may need a ride.
Do not walk through moving water, if possible.
Look for areas where the water is not moving.
What might seem like a small amount of
moving water can easily knock you down.
Do not drive into flooded areas. If your vehicle
becomes surrounded by rising water, get out
quickly and move to higher ground, if possible.
Stay Informed
Local authorities may not immediately be able
to provide information on what is happening
and what you should do. However, you should
listen to NOAA Weather Radio, watch TV,
listen to the radio (such as KSL (1160 AM or
102.7 FM) or KBYU (89.1 FM)) or check the
Internet often for official news and instructions
as they become available.
If it has been raining hard for several hours or
if it has been raining steadily for days there
may be the potential for flooding. Use common
sense and available information. If water is
rising quickly or you see a moving wall of mud
or debris, immediately move to higher ground.
Stay out of flood waters, if possible. The water
may be contaminated or electrically charged.
However, should you find yourself trapped in
your vehicle in rising water get out immediately
and seek higher ground.
Stay away from downed power lines to avoid
the risk of electric shock or electrocution.
Do not return to your home until local
authorities say it is safe. Even after flood
waters recede, roads may be weakened and
could collapse. Buildings may be unstable, and
drinking water may be contaminated. Use
common sense and exercise caution." Source:
Ready America
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