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 “With the change of seasons comes the risk of snow melt, heavy
rains, and rising waters—we’re all at some level of flood risk,”
said Andrew Velasquez III, FEMA Region V administrator. “It is
important we prepare now for the impact floods could have on our
homes, our businesses and in our communities.”
Take action with these simple steps to protect what matters before a
flood threatens your community:
Your Home
Ensure you’re insured. Consider purchasing flood insurance to
protect your home against the damage floodwaters can cause.
Homeowners’ insurance policies do not typically cover flood losses,
and most policies take 30-days to become effective. Visit
FloodSmart.gov for more information.
Keep important papers in a
safe place. Make copies of critical documents (mortgage papers,
deed, passport, bank information, etc.). Keep copies in your home
and store originals in a secure place outside the home, such as a
bank safe deposit box. Elevate mechanicals off the floor of
your basement—such as the water heater, washer, dryer and furnace—to
avoid potential water damage. Caulk exterior openings where
electrical wires and cables enter your home to keep water from
getting inside. Shovel! As temperatures warm, snow melt is
a real concern. Shovel snow away from your home and clean your
gutters to keep your home free from potential water damage.
Your Family
Build and maintain an emergency supply kit. Include drinking
water, a first-aid kit, canned food, a radio, flashlight and
blankets. Visit www.Ready.gov for a disaster supply checklist for
flood safety tips and information. Don’t forget to store additional
supply kits in your car and at the office too.
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Plan for your pet needs. Ensure you have pet food,
bottled water, medications, cat litter/pan, newspaper, a secure
pet carrier and leash included in your emergency supply kit.
Have a family emergency plan in place. Plan and practice
flood evacuation routes from home, work and school that are on
higher ground. Your family may not be together when a disaster
strikes so it is important to plan in advance: how you will get to a
safe place; how you will contact one another; how you will get back
together; and what you will do in different situations. To learn
more about preparing for floods, how to purchase a flood insurance
policy and the benefits of protecting your home or property
investment against flooding visit FloodSmart.gov or call
1-800-427-2419. For even more readiness information follow FEMA
Region V at twitter.com/femaregion5 and facebook.com/fema.
Individuals can always find valuable preparedness information at
www.Ready.gov or download the free FEMA app, available for Android,
Apple or Blackberry devices.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to
ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and
improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to,
recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
[Federal Emergency Management Agency]
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