Disaster preparedness: Flood

Floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States. The devastating effects of floods and flooding can be local, impacting a neighborhood or community, or very large, affecting entire river basins and multiple states. Emergency kits from FoodInsurance.com can help you and your family through any flood disaster.

Not all floods are not alike. Some floods develop slowly, sometimes over a period of days. But flash floods can develop quickly, sometimes in just a few minutes and without any visible signs of rain. Flash floods often have a dangerous wall of roaring water that carries rocks, mud, and other debris and can sweep away most things in its path. Overland flooding occurs outside a defined river or stream, such as when a levee is breached, but still can be destructive. Flooding can also occur when a dam breaks, producing effects similar to flash floods.

Your flood disaster preparedness plan

Be aware of flood disaster hazards where you live, and be prepared with emergency kits from FoodInsurance.com, especially if you live in a low-lying area, near water or downstream from a dam. Even very small streams, gullies, creeks, culverts, dry streambeds, or low-lying ground that appear harmless in dry weather can flood. Every state is at risk of flood disaster.

Follow these basic steps to develop your family disaster preparedness plan:

1. Gather information about hazards in your area. Find out how susceptible to flood disaster your area is and how you should respond. Learn your community's warning signals and evacuation plans— where you should go in the event of an emergency.
2. Meet with your family to create a disaster preparedness plan and make sure it includes emergency kits for the whole family. Discuss the information you've gathered. Choose a place outside your home to meet in the event of an emergency, such as a fire, and a place away from your neighborhood in case you can't return home. Choose a friend or relative who lives out-of-state as your "family check-in contact"
3. Implement your disaster preparedness plan:
   • Post emergency telephone numbers by phones.
   • Inspect your home for potential hazards such as items that can move, fall break or catch fire, and correct them.
   • Install safety features such as smoke alarms and fire extinguishers and instruct others how to use them properly.
   • Teach children how and when to call 911 or your local emergency medical services number.
   • Keep emergency kits such as FoodInsurance.com's The Essentials kit in your home with enough supplies for each member of your family for two weeks.
   • Keep a disaster preparedness response kit with items you may need in case of evacuation. Store these supplies in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers, such as backpacks or duffle bags. FoodInsurance.com makes it easy with the Emergency Plus kit!
   • Keep important family documents in a waterproof container.
   • Keep a smaller disaster preparedness emergency kit in the trunk of your car.
4. Practice and maintain your plan:
   • Ask questions to make sure your family remembers meeting places, phone numbers, and safety rules.
   • Make sure everyone knows where to find your family's emergency kits.
   • Test your smoke detectors monthly.
   • Test and recharge your fire extinguisher(s) according to manufacturer's recommendations.
   • Replace spare batteries as required.
   • Conduct periodic drills to make sure you are prepared in case of an actual emergency.

Your flood disaster preparedness plan can get your family through a crisis. Emergency kits from FoodInsurance.com are essential to approaching any disaster with confidence.