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What to Do in Case of Flash Flood: 7 Tips to Stay Safe

Flash floods live up to their name in that they can build up in an instant, and cause monumental damage in a short amount of time – especially in low-lying areas, or those near larger rivers. It is important to take control of a situation and ensure that you and your family are safe during any kind of natural disaster, flash floods included. The following tips will give you an idea of what to do if a flash flood threatens your area.

1. Evacuate the Area

Under no circumstances should you or your family remain in the area during a flash flood. Once the waters begin to rise, there is a small window where evacuation is possible, and it is wise to take that opportunity. If evacuation is not possible, then move to higher ground so that you can avoid the rising waters and, hopefully, avoid getting swept away with the flood.

If you are approaching an area that is currently under a flash flood in progress, do not attempt to drive or walk through the flood waters. Just six inches of moving water is strong enough to knock you over and drag you along with the path of the flood. For cars, it takes only one foot for the same result.

2. Be Aware of Your Surroundings

Being aware of one’s surroundings can mean knowing what to do in case of flash flood, or knowing where not to be in case of a possible flash flood. When camping, avoid setting up or parking too close to rivers, streams, or other bodies of water, especially if there is precipitation in the area. These bodies of water are prone to flash floods, especially during heavy rainfalls, and avoiding staying too close to them is a simple way to be proactive about your safety.

At home, it is a good idea to know the geography of the area so that you know how often they are likely to hit and what to do in case of flash flood. If your home is in a low valley or settled near a body of water (be it a reservoir, lake, river, etc.), there is a good chance that your home and family will be in danger of experiencing a flash flood. Educate yourself and understand what to expect if the worst is to happen.

3. Prepare Beforehand

One the best methods to prepare for any kind of natural disaster is to devise a plan of action before disaster strikes and make sure that everyone in your household knows the plan and what to do in case of flash flood. Know where to go to reach high ground and have an emergency kit packed and ready (more on this below). Remember, you may only have minutes before the flood hits and then grows too powerful to evacuate safely. 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.

If you have foreknowledge of a possible flood in your area, you can take steps to prepare your home for the onslaught. Put outdoor furniture inside and move what you can to the highest points in the home. Make sure that there are no electrical devices plugged in and if necessary, know where the emergency water and gas shut off valves in your house are located if you need to shut them down.

4. Flood Emergency Kit

In the even of a natural disaster like a flood, there is no way to know beforehand how long you may be out of your home or if you will have access to potable water or other essentials. Therefore, it is always wise to have an emergency kit packed and ready to go; you and your family should not waste time during an evacuation. A solid emergency kit might contain the following:

Potable water.
Cash.
First aid kit.
Flashlight (with extra batteries).
Food (anything that can survive without refrigeration).

Whatever you believe might be necessary for your survival can be added to this list. But be wary of packing too much; the idea is to have a kit that can be easily and quickly gathered during an emergency.

5. Have a Family Disaster Plan

In addition to making sure that everyone in your family knows what to do during a flood, also ensure that, in case you were to get separated during an emergency situation, that each member of the family knows where to go and what to do on their own. Figure out a good meeting place for after the flood that you all can gather at, in case of separation. And, of course, make sure that you and everyone one else in the household have some way to contact each member of the family.

6. Don’t Be Hasty

Once the rain has stopped, there is no doubt that you will want to get back home as quickly as possible to assess damage and begin possible repairs. However, returning home too early may either put you right back in danger or interfere with rescue operations. Monitor local radio stations and wait for local authorities to give the go ahead before returning home.

7. Use Caution with Flood Damaged Buildings

When you are able to return home, remember that the foundations of your home and other buildings may have been seriously compromised during the flood. Take care when entering any building, and if you feel that it is not safe, leave immediately. Check for gas leaks, broken utility lines, or electrical damage and report these issues to the proper authorities. No matter what, be aware and take care.

Final Thoughts

This is not an exhaustive list of tips what to do in case of flash flood, but it is a good place to start. If you have experience with flash floods, share your emergency plan and how you prepare yourself and your family for sudden disasters.

Image Source: 1, 2, 3

5 Facts about the Hurricane Katrina Storm Surge

Many people remember seeing the images of the Hurricane Katrina storm surge rage through New Orleans several years ago while watching the TV from the comfort of their homes. This event took place on August 29, 2005, and it is among the most damaging and deadly events of its kind. While many watched the events unfold on TV, many others lived through the event firsthand. As publicized as this event was, many people are not fully aware of the actual facts surrounding the Hurricane Katrina storm surge. By analyzing the facts of the event, you may gain more insight about what actually happened.

Hurricane Katrina Storm Surge Facts

A Mandatory Evacuation Order Was Issued for New Orleans

The day before the Hurricane Katrina storm surge hit New Orleans, the city’s mayor, Ray Nagin, issued a mandatory evacuation order. This was the first mandatory order of its kind. Approximately 80 percent of the city’s population had followed the mayor’s instructions and had evacuated by the evening hours. He also set up the Superdome as a refugee area for those who could not leave the city. With a population of close to 500,000 residents, approximately 112,000 could not gain access to a car. This included the disabled, elderly and impoverished citizens. However, only 10,000 initially sought refuge in the Superdome. Most others decided to remain in their homes despite the mandatory evacuation order.

The Storm Surge Was Intense and Rapid

The hurricane initially hit the coast of Louisiana early in the morning on August 29. You may be aware that the levees that kept storm surges out of the inhabited areas were breached during the Hurricane Katrina storm surge. You may not be aware that by only 9 AM that morning, many of the levees had been breached, and water was rapidly surging into the area.

Many miles from the coastline, the water level was so high that residents who decided to remain in their homes had to climb on top of the roofs of their home. In fact, it is estimated that more than 80 percent of the area was under water by this time. The residents who remained in their homes essentially were trapped and urgently needed help from first responders.

Hurricane Katrina storm surge flooding — Image Source: History.com

The Storm Weakened before Hitting Louisiana

Hurricane Katrina rolled through the Gulf Coast during a very active hurricane season. The hurricane originally struck Florida on August 26 as it made its way into the Gulf of Mexico. At that time, it was a weak Category 1 hurricane. It caused two deaths in Florida and moderate property damage.

Because of how active the hurricane season was, this hurricane did not initially receive much attention. However, Hurricane Katrina stalled in the Gulf of Mexico. As it churned, it grew to a massive Category 5 hurricane on August 28. On that day, the National Weather Service stated that there would be tremendous damage throughout the Gulf Coast region and that many areas may be uninhabitable for days.

The storm actually weakened to a Category 3 hurricane before it hit New Orleans head on. While the hurricane damage was moderate, the real impact of the storm came from the devastating Hurricane Katrina storm surge that took place because the levees broke.

The Death Toll Could Have Been Much Worse

Hitting the coast as a Category 3 hurricane, the storm weakened quickly. Within six hours, it was downgraded to a tropical storm. However, the aftermath of the storm was chaotic and deadly. Approximately 1,833 people lost their lives because of this hurricane. The storm surge was as high as 28 feet in some areas.

As deadly as this storm was, it is important to note that it could have been much worse. For example, the storm increased in size rather quickly, and the mayor acted rapidly to issue the mandatory evacuation order. The majority of the city’s residents followed the order. If these two factors were not in place, the death toll may have been exponentially higher. Furthermore, if the storm had struck land as a Category 5 hurricane and if it had not weakened so quickly, the devastation may have been much more significant and widespread.

Houses destroyed by Hurricane Katrina — Image Source: FEMA.gov

The Controversy Surrounding the Hurricane Continues

While this storm hit ground more than a decade ago, many people still feel its effects and hold resentment over certain aspects of the event. For example, the levees were breached because of incompetence by the Army Corps of Engineers that built them. Furthermore, everyone from the FEMA director to the national, state and local governments were criticized for responding slowly in providing assistance to the victims. There was even an investigation into the matter by the U.S. House of Representatives, and they ultimately determined that there was a failure of initiative in this matter.

While more than 300,000 residents have moved away from New Orleans since the hurricane, the city has improved in many areas. For example, new levees have been built that are now taller; they are implanted as much as 65 feet into the ground for stability. There are also better plans in place to assist with removing the elderly and disabled from the city when an evacuation is issued. Nonetheless, the city continues to be rebuilt, and as long as signs of the devastation remain, the controversy surrounding the storm remains.

Summing Up

When a devastating event such as the Hurricane Katrina storm surge hits, mass casualties often cause people to point fingers. However, it is important to note that there was a huge relief effort that continued on for years to help the victims of this tragedy. This includes an initial response from the American Red Cross, the Coast Guard, FEMA and others. It also includes FEMA housing and relocation assistance for those who needed long-term support after the incident. Some are continuing to rebuild their lives, and the lessons learned from this event may prevent future tragedies from occurring.

What to Do if Caught in Severe Storms: Essential Survival Tips

Severe storms come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s no surprise that people get confused about the safest course of action. What’s good for one severe storm situation isn’t always good for the next.

This article will explain the safest courses of action for the most common types of severe storms: floods, hail, lightening, high winds and tornadoes, and blizzards. You are often faced with several of these emergencies at once, but if you know what to do in each situation, you can keep your cool and find a safe place to ride it out.

5 Types of Severe Storms and How to Stay Safe

Flooding

man pushing his car through flood waters — Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

Flooding killed 126 people in 2016 alone. It is by far one of the most dangerous consequence of severe storms that a human can face, and also one of the most preventable causes of death. This is because most flooding deaths occur when a driver tries to move through shallow water and is swept away. The truth is that it only takes 18 inches of water to carry away a small car. Once you are in deeper water, you’re at great risk of drowning because flood water flows so fast it’s like trying to swim through a riptide.

If you are in this situation:

Remain calm.
Immediately unlock your doors.
Remove your seat belt and roll down your windows.
If you are wearing a heavy jacket, remove it because it will make it harder to swim.
Climb out through the windows if you can and get to high ground.

If you can’t open your windows, you must wait for the car to fill with water to open the doors. Don’t waste your energy trying to open the doors before the water pressure equalizes. You will need that energy to swim. Instead, stay very calm, look for the nearest safe location to swim to. Take a very deep breath at the last minute and push hard on the doors, they will open when the water pressure has equalized.

Hail

Hail can reach near 100 mph by the time it hits the ground. That means that even small hail can kill if it hits your unprotected head. So, during severe storms, make sure you find shelter before the hail starts. If you are in a building, stay away from windows as sideways falling hail can shatter them and injure you severely.

If you are out in the open with no better shelter, get in your car. DO NOT try to shelter under a lone tree as it will draw lightening. A stand of several trees can be safer if there is no other option. If you are in an open field without even this possibility, get down on the ground in a crouching or fetal position and cover your head and the back of your neck to protect them. Shield your spine as well, even if you can only do so by lying on your side with your hands over your face and neck.

Lightning

Believe it or not, you can survive a lightning strike, but the best bet is not to get hit in the first place. The obvious is to seek shelter immediately when the storm approaches and wait inside until 30 minutes after you year the last sound of thunder. Lightning can travel for miles.

If you are caught in the open, DON’T hide under a lone tree. If you can hide in an area that is lower than and near to but not too close to a dense growth of trees, this can help, but never hide near a tall isolated object. Also, don’t lie flat on the ground. It just increases surface area for damage.

Instead:

Move away from anything metal so you aren’t touching it.
Crouch low as you can.
Lift up your heels so only the balls of your feet are touching the ground to minimize contact.
TOUCH YOUR HEELS TOGETHER (this helps the electricity to only arc from one foot to the other instead of entering your entire body).
Cover your ears with your hands to protect them from hearing loss.

Should the hair on the back of your neck stand up, you need to assume the above position immediately.

High Winds or Tornadoes

car facing a tornado — Image Source: Reliable-Remodeler

First, if caught outside during these types of severe storms, do not try to seek shelter under a highway overpass. As the wind is pushed through an overpass, it actually increases in velocity, which increases your chances of being swept away.

If you are driving and you can still safely drive, don’t try to outrun a tornado because they can travel at 70mph, which is not a safe speed to drive in a severe storm. Instead, if you are still safely driving, angle away from it at 90 degrees.

If the storm is catching you, you need to exit the car and find shelter. If none is available, you should lie in a ditch as far away from trees, cars and large objects as possible. Protect your head and spine in the same way as you would during a hail storm.

The same advice goes for high winds, AKA straight line winds, which can be almost as dangerous as a tornado. Straight line winds knock over cars and people, so if you are facing these, you need to lie flat in a ditch till they pass.

Blizzards

car stuck in snow after a blizzard — Image Source: SafeBee.com

Prevention and preparedness are key to surviving these types of severe storms. If you are caught in your car, turn off the engine to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning and break out your emergency kit which should include prepackaged snacks, water and lots of blankets, boots, gloves and coats. It should also have a well sealed container for melting snow in case you run out of water. You must stay hydrated to stay warm.

You can turn the engine on every few minutes to warm the car and keep it from locking up; just don’t run it continuously. If you are on the side of the road, keep your seat belt on and turn on your hazards. You can still be hit by someone else who is trying to drive through.

If you are not in a car, seek shelter out of the wind and keep moving to keep your body warm. Remember, hydration is the most important thing you will need in this situation. Your body can stay warm more easily if you are well hydrated.

A Word of Ending

These are only basic beginners tips for surviving severe weather. However, they cover the leading causes of death in each situation. All are a very good starting point that you should learn and memorize. The National Weather Service also has a great deal of information on this topic. Weather.gov is another great source. Ultimately, the way to survive severe storms is to stay calm, think clearly and take decisive action to protect yourself at the first sign.

Do you have any severe weather tips that you would like to share? Please comment below!