24/7 Emergency ServiceEmergency Planning: Flooding Edition
7/19/2019 (Permalink)
It is important to stay safe during a flood. Follow these action steps to keep you and you're family safe.
We’ve talked about why you should never clean up after a flood, but what about what should you do during a flood? Believe it or not, floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States and WNY is not immune to this type of disaster. We have seen flooding all over WNY. From Silver Creek and Gowanda, to West Seneca and South Buffalo, flooding does not discriminate where it will strike.
More recently, we have seen flash flooding in Ellicottville and Little Valley. So, it is important to understand the proper safety precautions you should take during a flood.
According to Ready.gov you:
- Depending on where you are, and the impact and warning time of flooding, go to the safe location that you have previously determined.
- If told to evacuate, do so immediately. Remember to NEVER drive around barriers, they are there to safely direct traffic out of flooded areas.
- Listen to EAS, NOAA Weather Radio, or local alerting systems for current emergency information and instructions.
- Stay off bridges over fast moving water.
- If your vehicle is trapped in rapidly moving water, then stay inside. If water is rising inside the vehicle, then seek refuge on the roof.
- If trapped in a building, then go to its highest level. Do not climb into a closed attic. You may become trapped by rising floodwater. Only go to the roof if necessary. Once you are there, signal for help.
Remember to listen to authorities to determine when it is safe to go home. Never touch electrical equipment when wet, and do not wade in flood waters as there could be snakes, other animals, and dangerous debris floating around. Be sure to check out Ready.gov for more important safety tips and procedures on flooding.