The best way to stay safe, no matter what your risk, is to be prepared. Know as much as you can about the threat of flood – your knowledge will be crucial to your family’s safety. By knowing your flood risks and preparing now, you are greatly improving the chances of survival for you and your loved ones.
When preparing for a flood emergency, or any emergency, there are a lot of things to think about – it can seem overwhelming.
The best thing to do is to focus on one step at
a time.
One of the first steps to preparedness is to know your flood risk. Then, before you think about property loss, the main priority is to make sure you and your loved ones are safe from bodily harm – make a family evacuation plan. Once you have a plan to get everyone to safety, you can then work on a plan for pets and livestock and start developing your emergency kit. Finally, consider how to secure your property.
Remember, you may not be home when it floods or have much time to prepare. Your plans should include what to do if a flood strikes when you are away from home or have to leave immediately, and take steps ahead of time that can help reduce losses. This website is full of information that will help you prepare in advance.
Spend time talking with others about your preparedness efforts. Make sure your family is aware of all emergency plans. Check in with your children’s school to understand their emergency plans. Talk with your neighbors to form a network, especially looking out for elderly neighbors who live alone.
Still not sure where to start? Print out this useful handout. It has important phone numbers and websites, an emergency kit checklist, and sections to fill in your emergency contacts and plan. Make multiple copies for your household members so everyone knows what they need to do in a flood emergency.
