Hurricane Preparedness Week Article #4-Freshwater Flooding

[JonathanBelles]

Hurricane Preparedness Week Article #4

Wednesday May 28th, 2008-Freshwater Flooding

We have now looked at what the seas and what the air can do. Today we will look at what the skies can do.

Freshwater Flooding

Even though it rains feet of water per year in many places that receive hurricanes, hurricanes can bring feet of water in themselves. Freshwater flooding causes many, if not most deaths in a hurricane. Rain doesn’t always come in higher amounts with bigger or stronger storms. Allison, as most people know, was only a tropical storm, but it dropped close to 40” of rain in some spots killing 41 people. Allison killed 41 people, not only at its landfall point in Texas, but also as far away as Pennsylvania. Of those that died from Floyd, 56 in all…50 drowned in freshwater flooding.
Flooding doesn’t just take lives, but it also takes property. Cars are one of the first to go under when a hurricane strikes. Part of the reason is because people drive through streets that they a very familiar with, but because of the hurricane there is a new river or stream. They drive through the water, stall, get stuck, and eventually begin to drift. Sometimes that leads to deeper water, and cars will sink, submerging the people inside. Water rescues of this sort are very difficult, and sometimes kill more than those in the vehicle. Prepare your house, and the guts of your house for intruding flood waters. Put couches, tables, and anything else that can be ruined by water up on stilts or plywood.

Preparation

---If you live in a flood prone area, prepare to protect your home and leave it behind in the event of a hurricane.
---NEVER drive through water
---Turn around; don’t drown….Drive another way so that you don’t kill yourself.
---If at all possible, get flood insurance. Floods are not covered in homeowners insurance.
---Just in case you do stay and a flood does come, keep sandbags, boots, water repellant pants, bug repellant, something to keep your pets restrained, and somewhere that you can take your pet to go to the bathroom.
---Don’t let pets or kids play in the flood water.
---Do not drink the flood waters
---Watch out for downed power lines that could be discharging through the water.
---Wash anything that has come in contact with the flood waters; throw away anything that has come in direct contact with the water.
---If you absolutely need to go somewhere, have a canoe or other above water floating device ready.
---Watch out for snakes and alligators/crocodiles that may not be normal in the area, and maybe looking for food/shelter
---Make sure you have all important documents in water-proof containers so that flood waters cannot ruin them.