How will you be safe and prepared this flood season?

12/27/2019 (Permalink)

Flooding in Linda, California February 1986. Screenshot from The Forgotten Flood

Historically Sacramento’s worse floods have been in January and February

SERVPRO of North Highlands / Rio Linda wants everyone in the community to be prepared and safe during flooding season. You can prepare for a flooding emergency before it happens.

Before a Flood Prepare

1. Know the risk of flooding in your area and get flood insurance if in a flood area. (Home insurance does not cover water that comes into a house from outside, you need flood specified insurance to be covered. Talk to your agent and know you are covered.)
2. Elevate the furnace, water heater, and electric panel in your home if you live in an area that has a high flood risk.
3. Install “check valves” to prevent flood water from backing up into the drains of your home.
4. Keep a good amount of water bottles in your home ready in case of any emergency.
5. If in a high risk flood area you may want to construct barriers to stop floodwaters from entering your home. Also stock up on sandbags ahead of time! During a flood watch sandbag locations can be found by calling 311. (In past years, local suppliers of sandbags have ran out as the rain continued and flooding got worse so it is important to be prepared ahead of time.)
6. Follow the directions provided via media and by the Police and Fire Departments to ensure that you are heading in the safest possible direction.
7. Create a plan and practice the plan. Talk with family members about where to go and what to do during a flood emergency. (Practicing your plan with your family helps the whole family but is especially helpful to the younger ones in your family. It can not only help them know exactly what to do in the situation but also help keep them from being as scared during the flood.)
8. Don’t forget your pets! Have an emergency kit ready for them as well including their transportation needs, carriers, and leashes.
9. Have an emergency kit ready to go stocked with

• Copies of important documents (insurance and credit cards, birth certificates, deeds, photo IDs, proof of address, etc.) and cash in small bills kept in a waterproof container
• Extra set of car and house keys
• Bottled water and nonperishable food, such as energy or granola bars
• Flashlight with extra batteries, though LED flashlights are recommended
• Battery-operated AM/FM radio
• Extra chargers and batteries for mobile phones and devices
• Extra medication and a list of the medications each family member takes, why they take them and their dosages
• First-aid kit
• Toiletries
• Notepad and pen
• Contact and meeting place information for your household, and a small regional map
• Lightweight rain gear and a Mylar blanket

During Flood Safety Tips

1. If you can safely, turn off all utilities to your home before leaving.
2. Turn Around, Don’t Drown! Avoid walking or driving through flood waters.
3. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and 2 feet of water can sweep your vehicle away.
4. If floodwaters rise around your car but the water is not moving, abandon the car and move to higher ground. Do not leave the car and enter moving water.
5. If there is a downed power line Stay away and keep others away from them. Call 9-1-1 immediately to report the location of a downed line.

After Flooding

1. Return home only if your area has been cleared to reenter by local Police and Fire Departments.
2. Avoid moving water.
3. Stay away from damaged areas and any areas under water, unless your assistance has been specifically requested by police, fire, or relief organization.
4. Red Cross provides great information on what to do after a flood and has numbers available for help.

We are here to help you every step of the way

Remember, SERVPRO of North Highlands / Rio Linda is here for you. We want everyone to be safe and will help answer questions and concerns you may have about flooding and coverage in your area. You can give us a call at 916-991-1522. We have a trained professional available 24 hours a day for all emergencies.