As this week's tornado touchdowns in the Dallas-Fort Worth area have reminded us, weather emergencies can strike any place at any time, and we need to be prepared. Connecticut and the Nation celebrated Flood Awareness Week in March. We should all be flood conscious living close to Long Island Sound and in a Hurricane Zone, but flooding and related problems can actually occur under a variety of circumstances.
My parents live on a hill in almost-desert Southern California, but two years ago they experienced a mudslide that trapped them on their street and required a complete remodel of the first floor of their home. Six months prior to the mudslide, fires ravaged millions of acres of "forest" in the mountains above my parents' home. When El Nino arrived the following winter, it only took a few inches of rain to cause the unsecured mountainside to end up in the living rooms of several SoCal residents (see below for tips about flood insurance--are you covered?). Thanks to stake members in the construction business and their back-hoes, my family and our neighbors were freed after a long day's work, but repairing the damage took over six months. A few months later, my cousin and his wife got stuck while on a lay-over in Nashville, Tennessee during storms that caused the airport and most of downtown to flood--further proof that it is good to be prepared wherever you go.
We encourage each of you in the spirit of our ward preparedness theme, "More Prepared Than We Were Yesterday" to take a few minutes to look at the following links regarding flood preparedness and think of ways you and your family can be more prepared for flood dangers both at home and while travelling.
Your Emergency Preparedness Specialists
National Weather Service Flood Safety Awareness Week webiste: http://www.floodsafety.noaa.gov/
Flash flood safety when driving: http://www.norman.noaa.gov/2008/04/flash-flood-safety-in-a-car/. The basic rule of thumb is, if you see a road covered by water ahead of you, "Turn Around -- Don't Drown." You can't see how deep the water is, nor can you tell what the condition of the road underneath the water is. Stay safe and turn around.
Flash flood safety in your home: http://www.norman.noaa.gov/2008/03/flash-flood-safety-at-home/. Flash floods develop quickly. If your home is in a low-lying area, you need to be prepared to evacuate quickly.
FAQ regarding flood insurance: http://www.floodsafety.noaa.gov/resources/FloodIns_Why_WhereToBuy_DMX-3.pdf. Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States, but most homeowner's insurance policies don't cover flooding.
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