How to be prepared for floods

BEFORE Determine your flood risk. Know whether or not you live in a flood prone area. Call the flood inquiry telephone line, check the FEMA flood maps. BUY FLOOD INSURANCE Make a family disaster response plan which includes a flood response plan. Plan should include: A place to meet in case of evacuation List of phone numbers of family members Prepare a family disaster response kit which includes: Portable radio, emergency cooking equipment, flashlights, fresh batteries, non- perishable food and drinking water, essential medicines and a first-aid kit in a water proof container.

BEFORE Prepare your house pre-flood by: storing valuables safely in a high place such as the attic store house hold chemicals high above the ground close storm shutters move vehicles to a higher elevation turn off main gas valve turn off the main power switch [Do not touch any wet electrical equipment] keep storm drains near your home clear.

DURING Follow instructions given to you by emergency management officials from a local station on your battery powered radio. Do not linger outside in areas where rapid flooding is a threat. Be prepared to evacuate. If driving do not drive when the water is completely covering the road. If your car stalls, leave the car and reach safe ground.

AFTER Be aware of gas leaks, live wires and electrical shorts before entering your home. Record damage by taking photos. Contact Flood Insurance.

Types of Floods Duration Flood Names: Slow-Onset Floods- Long lasting flood. Lasts from weeks to months. Mostly damages agriculture and roads.

Types of Floods Duration Flood Names: Slow-Onset Floods- Long lasting flood. Lasts from weeks to months. Mostly damages agriculture and roads. Rapid-Onset Floods- Shorter floods lasting a couple days. Dangerous for people and property because of its swift subsistence.

Types of Floods Duration Flood Names: Slow-Onset Floods- Long lasting flood. Lasts from weeks to months. Mostly damages agriculture and roads. Rapid-Onset Floods- Shorter floods lasting a couple days. Dangerous for people and property because of its swift subsistence. Flash Floods- Occurs rapidly within only a few hours. Most dangerous due to its spontaneity.

Types of Floods - Location Flood Names Coastal Flooding- Occurs in coastal areas due to hurricanes, tropical storms, or tidal waves.

Types of Floods - Location Flood Names Coastal Flooding- Occurs in coastal areas due to hurricanes, tropical storms, or tidal waves. Arroyos Flooding- Arroyo are dry rivers and when heavy rainfall occurs, these rivers flood.

Types of Floods - Location Flood Names Coastal Flooding- Occurs in coastal areas due to hurricanes, tropical storms, or tidal waves. Arroyos Flooding- Arroyo are dry rivers and when heavy rainfall occurs, these rivers flood. River Floods- When heavy rain occurs, rivers are sometimes fed more water then they can hold, causing it to flood areas surrounding the river.

Types of Floods - Location Flood Names Coastal Flooding- Occurs in coastal areas due to hurricanes, tropical storms, or tidal waves. Arroyos Flooding- Arroyo are dry rivers and when heavy rainfall occurs, these rivers flood. River Floods- When heavy rain occurs, rivers are sometimes fed more water then they can hold, causing it to flood areas surrounding the river. Urban Floods- When metropolitan areas experience heavy rainfall, unless the city has a good drainage system, the streets will flood due to the lack of absorption materials such as trees and grass.

How Floods Affect You Floods can take lives, damage property, and create landslides. Floods can damage live stock and produce a number of diseases. Floods can contaminate your water, wiping out your clean water supply. Floods can destroy harvests creating food shortages.

Top sixteen flash flood/flood fatality states, Number of fatalities: 1. TEXAS CALIFORNIA SOUTH DAKOTA VIRGINIA WEST VIRGINIA PENNSYLVANIA MISSISSIPPI COLORADO LOUISIANA MISSOURI GEORGIA NEW YORK OHIO ARIZONA KENTUCKY TENNESSEE - 91 Source: Roy Sedwick, Lower Colorado River Authority, written commun., 1999

Maximum Precipitation Year Date(s) Region(s) in August 1 to 4 Central Texas in July 24 to 28 East Texas and Upper Coast in September 8 to 10 Central Texas in June 30 to July 2 Central Texas in June 30 to July 7 Central Texas in June 28 to July 1 Central and East Texas in June 24 to 29 Lower Rio Grande Basin in September 19 to 25 South Texas in September 13 to 18 Colorado River Basin in June 24 to 26 Gulf Coast in September 17 to 21 East Texas and Upper Coast in September 9 to 11 Guadalupe / Lower Colorado River Basins in September 7 to 13 South Texas and Coastal Bend in June 23 to 24 Rio Grande Watershed in July 27 to 29 Upper Gulf Coast Excerpted from: United States Geological Survey Open-file Report “Major and Catastrophic Storms and Floods in Texas” See: Top 25 Summer Rains in Texas

Maximum Precipitation Year Date(s) Region(s) in September 14 to 25 Rio Grande Watershed in June 28 to 30 South-Central Texas in June 30 to July 4 Central Texas in June 27 to 30 Central Texas in September 15 to 30 South-Central & Northeast Texas in September 16 to 19 South Texas in August 16 to 21 East Texas in August 26 to 29 Gulf Coast in Aug. 30 to Sept. 5 Most of Texas in June 27 Central Texas (MOST RECENT EVENT) NOTE #1: (Near - summer Tropical Storm Allison in Houston - June 6 to 9, 2001 was one of the costliest storms in U.S. history and produced in. of rain.) NOTE #2: The infamous Galveston Hurricane event, in the summer of 1900 (September 8-9) is still the single biggest loss of life in a U.S. disaster with estimates of 5,000 to 8,000 dead.

Works Cited Floods in Texas – USGS, Dec Buffalo Bayou, Texas Flood Control Project – U.S. Corps of Engineers Texas Weather – George W. Bomar, 1983 Roy Sedwick, Lower Colorado River Authority, written commun., html ation.html&edu=high