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Flood Guide: Prepare
Before the flood
- Prepare your family disaster plan.
- Find out if you live in a flood plain. Check with your landlord or title company.
- Learn the safest route from your home or place of business to high, safe ground if you have to evacuate in a hurry.
- Find out if you need flood insurance.
- Do you have a solid emergency supply kit?
- Make sure you have a portable radio, emergency cooking equipment and flashlights in working order.
Protect your property
If you live in a frequently flooded area, stockpile emergency building materials:
- Plywood and plastic sheeting
- Nails and pry bar
- Hammer and saw
- Shovels and sandbags
- Sandbags cannot be filled and stored for a long time because burlap bags when filled with sand or dirt will rot.
- Sandbags must be filled immediately before or during the storm.
- Sandbags should be only half full with sand. Note:they will not completely seal out water.
Prepare your house
- Have check-valves installed in your home's sewer traps to prevent flood waters from backing sewage up into house.
- As a last resort, use large corks or stoppers to plug showers, tubs, or basins.
- Check your roof for leaks. Clean out gutters and other drainage areas.
- Bring outdoor belongings, such as patio furniture, indoors. Move valuable furnishings to the upper floors or to safe ground if time permits.
- If you are instructed to do so by local authorities, turn off all utilities.
- Be prepared to evacuate.
Next: Respond and survive
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