Watch out for wild animals, especially poisonous snakes that may have come into your home with the floodwater. Discard items that have come in contact with floodwater, including canned goods, water bottles, plastic utensils and baby bottle nipples. Move immediately to higher ground or stay on high ground. Almost half of all flash flood fatalities are vehicle related, according to the National Weather Service. Turn off utilities at the main switches or valves if instructed. Make sure your food and water are safe. If possible, bring in outdoor furniture and move important items to an upper floor, above possible flood levels. Seal walls in basements with waterproofing compounds to avoid seepage. Even shallow, moving water can make you fall. Stay out of lower levels and move to higher floors to keep away from flood water. Only pump water out of a flooded building when water has receded outside. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. All rights reserved. If you have foreknowledge of a possible flood in your area, you can take steps to prepare your home for the onslaught. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross. Follow any evacuation orders. 2020 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Construct barriers (levees, beams, floodwalls) to stop floodwater from entering your home. A dehumidifier will help remove excess water and minimize mold damage. Be especially cautious at night when it’s harder to see flood danger. Flash flooding is the most hazardous weather disaster in the United States. One of the biggest ways to protect yourself and your property is to prepare ahead of time. People should keep informed about weather conditions and listen to the advice of local officials. If they already have an emergency plan for their household, they should talk about it again with family members so everyone knows what to do if an emergency occurs. Turn around, don’t drown. If you're driving and approach a water-covered road, turn around. Materials such as cleaning products, paint, batteries, contaminated fuel and damaged fuel containers are hazardous. Just 6 inches of water can stall a vehicle, and 2 feet can float most cars, trucks and SUVs. When in doubt, throw it out. This includes: Photograph by Ami Vitale, Nat Geo Image Collection, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural-disasters/flood-safety-tips.html, Sandbags can provide a temporary levee in an emergency. There are 3 easy steps people can take to be “Red Cross Ready” for an emergency: If someone already has a disaster kit, now is the time make sure the food and water is still okay to consume and that copies of important documents are up to date. Here, a drenched ricksha puller pauses for a photo in ankle-deep water near a market. Support all the urgent humanitarian needs of the American Red Cross. In 2005, flooding from Hurricane Katrina caused a majority of the damage when old levees failed during the storm. Follow any evacuation orders. Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water. After a flood, do not attempt to return to affected areas until officials say it is safe to do so. Listen to local radio, NOAA radio or TV stations for the latest information and updates. Damaged sewage systems are serious health hazards. Charge cell phone batteries and any reusable batteries for flashlights. Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded. Return home only when authorities say it is safe. Be wary of lingering water inside buildings after a flood. Disconnect electrical appliances. During a flash flood. Avoid floodwaters; water may be contaminated by oil, gas, or raw sewage. A flood/flash flood warning means flooding/flash flooding is already occurring or will occur soon in your area. Buy extra batteries in case power isn’t restored immediately. Here are some other tips to stay high and dry: Yet another round of drenching rainfall is hitting the mid-Atlantic and northeast regions of the country which has already led to flash flooding in some areas. In fact, only last year 1,200 people reportedly died across South East Asia and countless more were devastated in the US by Hurricane Harvey. If power lines are down outside your home, do not step in puddles or standing water. During cleanup, wear protective clothing, including rubber gloves and rubber boots. If you smell natural or propane gas or hear a hissing noise, leave immediately and call the fire department. Pay attention to weather forecasts. A warning means flooding is occurring or will occur soon. Move immediately to higher ground or stay on high ground. When the annual monsoon rains come and send the Hooghly River over its banks, rickshas are the best way to get around Kolkata (Calcutta), India. Water may also be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines. Roads may have weakened and could collapse under the weight of a car. If driving, turn around and go another way. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 dropped 60 inches of rain in some parts of Texas, creating massive flooding hazards. If you and your family know what to do in case of flash flood before disaster hits, you are more likely to get to safety and stay there. Flash Flood Safety Tips ¢Avoid walking or driving through flood waters. Stay away from floodwaters. Heavy rainfall in a short period of time causes water to rise rapidly, elevating the risk of flooding. Floods cause power outages, damage infrastructure, trigger landslides, and can be deadly. Though most people associate hurricanes with wind damage, flooding poses one of the biggest threats from the storms. Once you are able to go home, look for loose power lines, damaged gas lines, cracks in the foundation or other damage before you enter your home. Here are some safety tips to help you prepare for rising water—and what to do once a flood has begun. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you. What’s worse—a flood watch or warning? The American Red Cross has steps people can take to remain safe. Most cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving water. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. Service damaged septic tanks, cesspools, pits, and leaching systems as soon as possible. It can be difficult to tell how deep the water is and what lies underneath the water that could hurt you. Know the difference. Still avoid moving water—the danger decreases only when water levels drop. Listen to local radio, NOAA radio or TV stations for the latest information and updates. If you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around you, get out of the car quickly and move to higher ground. A watch means flooding is possible. If there is any possibility of a. If you have to walk in water, wherever possible, walk where the water is not moving. Heed evacuation warnings. Clean and disinfect everything that was stuck in flooded waters. A flood/flash flood watch means a flood/flash flood is possible in your area. Tropical Storm Eta Heading Out to Sea After Florida Landfall, Hurricane Delta: Red Cross Helping People Begin Massive Clean-up Again, Thousands Still Need Red Cross Help Weeks after Hurricane Laura Landfall, Midwest could see flooding this week, follow these safety tips, .type=article.p=1.t=redcross%3APreparedness%7CFlood-Safety.t=redcross%3AEmergency-Type%7CFloods, /content/redcross/en/about-us/news-and-events/news/2018/flash-flooding---how-to-stay-safe.