Most flood events happen when water levels reach a certain level, or when the conditions are right for it to happen. When it does, it is known as a flooding event.
Currently, there is little chance of a national or international flooding event happening, but if you were prepared, you could be! If you have family or friends who live in an area that is vulnerable to flooding, especially during the summer months, giving your home a heads-up on how to prepare for a flood is important.
Home security measures such as installing an alarm system and purchasing a fire protection system are always useful. Determining whether or not electricity and/or food supplies will hold up if the normals need to be turned on is important.
Installing roof solar panels would also be helpful in case of power outages or insufficient storage resources to cover both solar and backup sources of electricity.
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Check your insurance
Most insurance companies will not cover flooding due to a power outage. If your home is damaged as a result of flooding, check your insurance policy to make sure you do not owe extra coverage due to the storm.
If your house was not covered by the insurance company, make sure you have sufficient funds to repair or replace your home. Many homes were damaged significantly in the event of a flood. Some homes may still be liable for rental income if they are a qualified rental property.
Look into community pools and public bath facilities to see if they allow pets, so you can bring yours with you. Most people were surprised how many friends and family members were unable to come back to their own homes because of the comfort level when surrounded by animals.
Make a plan for notifying authorities and family members
If a storm is predicted, make a plan to have extra supplies on hand. This includes water, food, and the phone numbers of family members and friends.
It is also important to gather your personal items together and place them in a safe place. This includes all of your clothing, jewelry, and other small items you do not want to lose but cannot be held onto for long.
By having these things ready, you will have peace of mind when the time comes to get together with family and friends. You can also make an effort to stay informed about weather forecasts and storm predictions through social media or news reports.
If there is an imminent threat of a flood, it is best to gather everyone and put their plans into action soon.
Ensure all drains are working properly
Floods can cause significant water damage to the interior of your home. If significant water flows into your home, then all drains in your home are working properly.
It is critical that all toilets, bathtubs, and showers are operational and draining. That includes checking the faucets, checking to see if they are hot or cold, and making sure they’re in operation.
Checking all of these items is an important way to prepare your house for a flood. Some companies even offer a pre-flood inspection as well as providing tips and tricks for saving money on repair bills.
Drain plugs can be ordered prior to a flood to ensure there is enough space for them. These plugs prevent water from coming into the house through small openings such as drain lines.
Keep away from flood zones
Flood water can exceed federal and state guidelines for non-residents, making it a possible hazard. Residing in a flood zone is not a recommended strategy as the water may not be controlled properly due to the area being government controlled.
While it is legal to purchase and own a home in a flood zone, two-homes, landlords cannot make upgrades to existing homes on land under their control, and neither can they build upon or install new infrastructure such as plumbing or electrical systems.
As stated before, the property owner or landlord must abide by government regulations when building extra infrastructure on land under their control. If the government requires that something be done with the property owner’s or landlord’s permission, then the area will be more safe as opposed to having floods come through without them.
While it is illegal to add new construction material or systems in a flood zone, there are still major dangers.
Prepare your home for flooding by raising items like books and paintings off the floor with stands or piles of clay or sand
These items can be stored in sealed containers or groups until needed. Raised living room furniture such as pillows and blankets should be washed and put away before the water arrives.
When water approaches, action is needed very quickly. A flooded home can be a dangerous place. Fortunately, this article will provide more information if the need arises, but for now, close doors and windows if necessary to prevent overly high water levels getting into your home.
Books and books that are valuable in case of an emergency should be kept inside or in a sealed storage container. If necessary, you can build a second floor suicide hole or escape route to get out of an emergency with limited resources.
Know the signs of a flood coming
It is important to know the signs of a flooded home or neighborhood. A heavy downpour the night before a storm is one sign. The rustling of trees in the wind coming upriver the next morning is another.
A heightened smell of water and dampness in rooms that do not appear to be used regularly is yet another. While all of these signs are encouraging, they are only signs and not rules!
As homes and neighborhoods brace for a flood, we can do two things to prepare: Know what happens if it comes and what we should do if it does.
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Listen to official warnings
It is the responsibility of all citizens to listen to official flood warnings. Especially before a flood, it is important to listen to warnings that say how much rain there will be in the forecast.
Most storms have a little preparation talk where they tell you what size house you’re living in and how high the ceiling must be to accommodate the amount of water that will come through the home.
You can see this during a storm when water comes down from the top of a window or door and lands in an inch or two of footing. When it tells you how many days you should stay away from work and what kind of work should be done on Sunday, you should listen.
Many communities tell people not to go out if there is going to be heavy rains, because it could cause some roads to become caved in or flooded. If you need to take care of your home or business during this storm, know that roads may be treacherous.
Move items that could block drains away from them
Make sure to inventory all of your possessions. You can do this by going to your house or apartment, or by using the nearby housing facility or landlord’s office desk system.
This helps to make sure that there is no flooding, or that your belongings are safe should it become necessary to evacuate the home. It can be helpful to organize this inventory by size of item or value of item.
Heap up these important details into a solid plan for your home-education and listen to the consequences if something goes wrong.
If you have children that could benefit from a little education on how to prepare for an emergency, give them the responsibility for this at the same time as moving items away from them.