Last summer my family was tent camping in the Florida Keys when a strong storm approached. It was dark and we didn’t have a weather radio available, but I knew the thunder and lightening were warnings that our family needed to take cover…. more appropriate cover than our tent was providing.
An hour after taking shelter the rain subsided enough for us to venture back to our tent to check for damage. When we stepped out of our utility trailer our legs were calf-deep in flowing water! Daylight broke with us staring at our floating tent in amazement that the stakes kept it in place. Unprepared for this sort of weather, we packed up and went home a week early.
A friend of mine lived on the Tomoka River in Ormond Beach, Florida, for several years. She had a beautiful three story home that she was proud to enjoy with her friends and family. In 2004 the base level of her home flooded MORE THAN FOUR TIMES! Her home was flooding so frequently that she refused to keep any furniture or personal belongings on the base floor at all. After several months of flooding torture, she left the home she loved and moved away from the water – the flooding had become too much for her.
The above experiences are great examples of knowing your surroundings and being aware. Both of us were near water that could rise at any given time and we both needed to be prepared for that to happen. Whether you are at home or on vacation – your family needs to be protected and know what to do.
Preparing your Home & Family For a Flood:
A flood is a disaster that very few families actually prepare for. Which is pretty scary considering a flood can happen anywhere! Being near water only increases your probability but it doesn’t mean those that are away from waterways are free from ALL chances of experiencing one.
Sure, you have your disaster kit ready that includes everything you need in “any” situation… but how much of that is going to help you in a flood? If your home is taking on water, what will you do? Where is “higher ground”? How will you evacuate? What if you are the only adult home with multiple young children? What if you don’t have a car?
As a parent, you are responsible for the safety of your child(ren) in any situation… are you ready?
Books to Get You Started:
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There are several resources available to you online. Searching “[your state] and flood preparation” in your search engine will provide you with information specific to your area.
Ready.gov and FloodSmart.gov are websites with specific information regarding everything you could ever want to know about flooding. These sites provide you with flood stories, drill scenarios, what you need to know about flood insurance, education for children, how to read flood maps, videos, simulators, and even what you should do before, during, and after a flood.
Products to Consider for your Evacuation kit:
The following is a list of products that you may want to consider when creating your disaster preparedness kit that are specific to flood safety:
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The inflatable boat is much less expensive than a self-inflating life raft and can quickly be pumped with a battery operated air pump. There is plenty of room for five people and supplies to fit inside and it even comes with oars!
Each family member should have their own life vest, even the babies! The yellow vest shown above is designed for infants and toddlers to keep them facing up at all times!
It is advisable that more than one person in your party have a safety whistle. The whistle shown is specifically designed to be LOUD so emergency response teams can locate you.
Need more? The Red Cross offers a downloadable checklist that holds a wealth of information on it. You can easily download this form below.
Download the Red Cross’s Flood Safety Checklist HERE.
Are you prepared?
