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FACT SHEET
Federal Emergency Management Agency
FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS
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Find out if you live in a flood-prone area from your localemergency management officeor Red Cross chapter.
Ask whether your property isabove or below the flood stagewater level and learn about thehistory of flooding for your region.Learn flood warning signs andyour community alert signals.Request information on preparingfor floods and flash floods.
If you live in a frequentlyflooded area, stockpile emer-gency building materials.
These include plywood, plasticsheeting, lumber nails, hammer andsaw, pry bar, shovels, and sandbags.
Have check valves installed inbuilding sewer traps to preventflood waters from backing up insewer drains.
As a last resort, use large corks orstoppers to plug showers, tubs, orbasins.
Plan and practice an evacuationroute.
Contact the local emergency manage-ment office or local American RedCross chapter for a copy of thecommunity flood evacuation plan.This plan should include informa-tion on the safest routes to shel-ters. Individuals living in flashflood areas should have severalalternate routes.
Have disaster supplies on hand.
•Flashlights and extra batteries•Portable, battery-operated radioand extra batteries•First aid kit and manual•Emergency food and water•Nonelectric can opener•Essential medicines•Cash and credit cards•Sturdy shoes
Develop an emergencycommunication plan.
In case family members areseparated from one another duringfloods or flash floods (a realpossibility during the day whenadults are at work and children areat school), have a plan for gettingback together.Ask an out-of-state relative orfriend to serve as the “familycontact.” After a disaster, it’s ofteneasier to call long distance. Makesure everyone in the family knowsthe name, address, and phonenumber of the contact person.
Make sure that all familymembers know how to-respond after a flood orflash flood.
Teach all family members howand when to turn off gas,electricity, and water.Teach children how and when tocall 9-1-1, police, fire department,and which radio station to tune tofor emergency information.
Learn about the NationalFlood Insurance Program.
Ask your insurance agent aboutflood insurance. Homeownerspolicies do not cover flood damage.
DURING A FLOOD WATCH
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Listen to a battery-operated radiofor the latest storm information.
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Fill bathtubs, sinks, and jugswith clean water in case waterbecomes contaminated.
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Bring outdoor belongings,such as patio furniture, indoors.
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Move valuable householdpossessions to the upper floors orto safe ground if time permits.
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If you are instructed to do so bylocal authorities, turn off allutilities at the main power switchand close the main gas valve.
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Be prepared to evacuate.Mitigation pays. It includes any activities that prevent an emergency, reduce the chance of an emergency happening, orlessen the damaging effects of unavoidable emergencies. Investing in mitigation steps now such as constructing barrierssuch as levees and purchasing flood insurance will help reduce the amount of structural damage to your home andfinancial loss from building and crop damage should a flood or flash flood occur.
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EMERGENCY PUBLIC INFORMATION
September 1993 
DURING A FLOOD
If Indoors:
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Turn on battery-operated radioor television to get the latestemergency information.
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Get your preassembedemergency supplies.
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If told to leave, do so immedi-ately.
If Outdoors:
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Climb to high ground and staythere.
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Avoid walking through anyfloodwaters. If it is movingswiftly, even water 6 inches deepcan sweep you off your feet.
If In a Car:
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If you come to a flooded area,turn around and go another way.
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If your car stalls, abandon itimmediately and climb to higherground. Many deaths haveresulted from attempts to movestalled vehicles.
DURING AN EVACUATION
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If advised to evacuate, do soimmediately.
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Evacuation is much simpler andsafer
before
flood waters becometoo deep for ordinary vehicles todrive through.
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Listen to a battery-operatedradio for evacuation instructions.
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Follow recommended evacua-tion routes — shortcuts may beblocked.
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Leave early enough to avoidbeing marooned by flooded roads.
Flood dangers do not end when thewater begins to recede. Listen to aradio or television and don’treturn home until authoritiesindicate it is safe to do so.Remember to help your neighborswho may require special assis-tance — infants, elderly people,and people with disabilities.Inspect foundations for cracksor other damage.Stay out of buildings if floodwaters remain around thebuilding.When entering buildings, useextreme caution.
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Wear sturdy shoes and usebattery-powered lanterns orflashlights when examiningbuildings.
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Examine walls, floors, doors,and windows to make sure thatthe building is not in danger of collapsing.
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Watch out for animals, espe-cially poisonous snakes, thatmay have come into your homewith the flood waters. Use astick to poke through debris.
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Watch for loose plaster andceilings that could fall.
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Take pictures of the damage— both to the house and itscontents for insurance claims.
Look for fire hazards.
•Broken or leaking gas lines•Flooded electrical circuits•Submerged furnaces or electricalappliances•Flammable or explosivematerials coming from upstream
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Throw away food — includingcanned goods — that has comein contact with flood waters.Pump out flooded basementsgradually
(about one-third of the water per day)
to avoid structuraldamage.Service damaged septic tanks,cesspools, pits, and leachingsystems as soon as possible.Damaged sewage systems arehealth hazards.
Check for gas leaks —
If you smell gas or hear a blowing orhissing noise, open a window and quicklyleave the building. Turn off the gas at theoutside main valve if you can and call thegas company from a neighbor’s home. Ifyou turn off the gas for any reason, itmust be turned back on by a professional.
Look for electrical systemdamage —
If you see sparks orbroken or frayed wires, or if you smellhot insulation, turn off the electricity atthe main fuse box or circuit breaker. Ifyou have to step in water to get to thefuse box or circuit breaker, call anelectrician first for advice.
Check for sewage andwater lines damage —
If you suspect sewage lines aredamaged, avoid using the toilets and calla plumber. If water pipes are damaged,contact the water company and avoidusing water from the tap. You can obtainsafe water by melting ice cubes.
Inspecting Utilities ina Damaged Home
 
BACKGROUNDER
FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS
1.
Flood waters can be extremely dangerous. The force of sixinches of swiftly moving water can knock people off their feet.The best protection during a flood is to leave the area and go toshelter on higher ground.
2.
Flash flood waters move at very fast speeds and can rollboulders, tear out trees, destroy buildings, and obliterate bridges.Walls of water can reach heights of 10 to 20 feet and generallyare accompanied by a deadly cargo of debris. The best responseto any signs of flash flooding is to move immediately andquickly to higher ground.
3.
Cars can easily be swept away in just 2 feet of movingwater. If flood waters rise around a car, it should be abandoned.Passengers should climb immediately to higher ground.
WHAT IS A FLOOD?
Floods are the most common and widespread of all natural disasters—except fire. Most communities in theUnited States can experience somekind of flooding after spring rains,heavy thunderstorms, or winter snowthaws. Floods can be slow, or fast rising but generally developover a period of days. Dam failures are potentially theworst flood events. A dam failure isusually the result of neglect, poor design, or structural damage caused by a major event such as an earth-quake. When a dam fails, a giganticquantity of water is suddenly let loose downstream, destroyinganything in its path.
EMERGENCY INFORMATION
Flash floods usually result fromintense storms dropping largeamounts of rain within a brief period.Flash floods occur with little or nowarning and can reach full peak inonly a few minutes.
WHAT IS A FLASH FLOOD?
Floods and flash floods occur within all 50 states. Communities particularly at risk are thoselocated in low-lying areas, near water, or downstream from a dam.
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