Anyone's home can be flooded.
Weather patterns are changing.
And so are the chances of seeing everything you've spent years building washed
away in minutes. Just consider the facts about floods. A flood
moves with frightening speed. There are more floods than any other natural
disaster in America. The truth is, 90% of all natural disasters in this
country involve floods. And in the last two years, floods have hit homes
and businesses in all 50 states. What's more, almost 25% of all flood
claims come from areas no one considered high risk.
Floods and flash floods are the
leading weather-related killers in the United States. In the past 30
years, floods have accounted for nearly double the fatalities as lightning
[second leading cause]. Flooding in West Virginia is a serious problem.
Thirty-six people have been killed in the last 10 years alone in floods and
flash floods.
SkyPix Photo
Gallery by Roger Edwards
Three types of floods occur in
West Virginia. They are:
-
General River Flooding occurs after long-term
heavy rain, snow melt or a combination of the two. It usually occurs
slowly, allowing more time to move people and property to safety.
-
Flash Flooding is always life threatening and
occurs very quickly as the name implies. Flash flooding typically occurs
in hilly or mountainous areas, but can occur anywhere when heavy rain falls in
a short period of time. Flash flooding can also be caused by a dam
failure as was the case on February 26, 1972 along Buffalo creek in Logan
County. After 3 - 4 inches of rain overnight, a slag dam failed killing
125 people.
-
Urban and Small Stream Flooding is a more
subtle flood threat. It can occur when heavy rain falls in an urban or
rural area, resulting in flooding streets, underpasses or drainage ditches in
an urban area, or creeks in rural areas. It is not normally a threat
unless motorists drive through the flooded road or children play in flooded
drainage ditches. Small stream flooding can be hazardous if persons get
to close to a swollen creek.
Being ready for any type of
natural disaster is very important for people in our state. Flooding,
for example, is the number one weather related killer in the country.
Flash floods are especially dangerous because they can occur within a few
minutes or hours of excessive rainfall. In an effort to provide
communities with a better warning system FloodThreat has been developed.
FloodThreat consists of a color map indicating by county how much rain is
required over any 3-hour period within the next 24 hours to cause flooding.
The map is updated every 12-hours and is derived from a combination of River
Forecast Center (NWS) Flash Flood Guidance data and EarthSat estimation.
You can check out Monongalia County's flooding threat by clicking on the
following link ...
Earth Satellite
Corporation - Flooding: Floodplain Management Tools
Some action steps residents can
take are:
Assemble a
Disaster Supply Kit. Use a duffle bag
to store supplies you would want to take with you in an evacuation.
Include a portable battery powered radio, flashlights, extra batteries and
emergency cooking equipment. Pack a first aid kit, extra clothing,
blankets, bottled water and some food.
Take time now to learn the flood evacuation route from
your home and business. Do not wait until the water rises to
discover the safest, quickest route to higher ground or you may find
yourself treading water.
Buy flood insurance, bring your insurance policy with
you if you evacuate.
Taking a first aid or CPR course before a disaster
occurs.
During a possible flooding
situation, residents should be prepared to evacuate before the water reaches
their homes. If caught in a building during a flood, move to the highest
floor or the roof and wait for help. Do not try to swim to safety.
The strength of a flood water current can be deceiving. If you are in a
car and water starts to rising, get out and move to higher ground.
Remember that just 6-inches was rapidly moving flood water can knock a person
down!
One of the biggest precautions
residents need to follow during a flood is not to drive or walk into an area
already underwater. Many people die in vehicles while trying to cross
roadways because the road surface could be washed away or the road could dip
and the water level could be much deeper than expected. It only takes
two feet of water to carry away many of today's cars. Trucks and
four-wheel drive vehicles are also susceptible to being swept away by high
water. Such vehicles often give motorists a false sense of security,
believing they can drive through high water. This could be an
even more dangerous situation at night because visibility may be limited.
Even if the vehicle in front of you successfully crossed a water-covered road,
it is best to find an alternative route or to wait. If you get stuck,
you are not only risking your own life, but the lives of rescue personnel.
Never let children play near
creeks or storm drains. Every year, deaths or injuries occur as a result
of people getting swept into a creek or storm drain, with the most frequent
victims being children. On July 9, 1997 a 12-year old boy was sucked
into a 14 inch drain pipe and drowned in Barboursville.
If you live in a low-lying area or
near a creek, pay close attention to water levels during heavy rain events.
Water rises rapidly during flash floods, often taking victims by surprise.
Be prepared to move quickly to higher ground if water level begin rising
rapidly.
If you are camping, never set up
your tent or camper right on the bank of a river or creek. It is best to
allow some distance and elevation between your campsite and the creek, so if a
flash flood does occur, you will have more time to move to higher ground.
If you have time ... turn off all
utilities. Move valuables to upper floors or higher elevations.
Fill bathtubs, sinks and jugs with clean water in case regular supplies are
contaminated.
When deep flooding is likely,
permit the flood waters to flow freely into the basement of your home.
This will avoid structural damage to the foundation and the house by
equalizing the water pressure on the outside of the basement walls and floors.
After the Flood:
Stay away from flood water.
The water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline or raw sewage. The water
may also be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines.
Be aware of areas where
flood waters have receded. Roads may have weakened and could collapse
under the weight of a car.
If your home, apartment or business has
suffered flood damage, immediately call the agent or broker who handles your
flood insurance policy. The agent will then submit a loss form to the
National Flood Insurance Program. An adjuster will be assigned to
inspect your property.
Prior to entering a building,
check for structural damage. Make sure it is not in danger of
collapsing. Turn off any outside gas lines at the meter or tank, and let
the house air for several minutes to remove foul odors or escaping gas.
Upon entering the building,
do not use open flame as a source of light since gas may still be trapped
inside.
Watch for electrical shorts or
live wire before making certain that the main power switch is off.
Cover broken windows and holes in
the roof or walls to prevent further weather damage.
Proceed with immediate cleanup
measures to prevent any health hazards. Perishable items which pose a
health problem should be listed before discarding. Throw out fresh food and
previously opened medicines that have come in contact with floodwaters.
Water for drinking and food
preparation should be boiled vigorously for ten minutes ... until the public
water system has been declared safe.
Refrigerators ... sofas ... and
other hard goods should be hosed off and kept for the adjuster's inspection.
A good deodorizer when cleaning major kitchen appliances is to add one
teaspoon of baking soda to a quart of water. Any partially damaged items
should be dried and aired ... the adjuster will make recommendations as to
their repair and disposal. Take pictures of the damage done to your
building and contents.
Take all wooden furniture outdoors
... but keep it out of direct sunlight to prevent warping. A garage or
carport is a good place for drying. Remove drawers and other moving
parts as soon as possible, but do not pry open swollen drawers from the front.
Instead, remove the backing and push the drawers out.
Shovel out mud while it is still
moist to give walls a chance to dry. Wash with a mild soap solution and
rinse with clean water ... always start at the bottom and work up.
Ceilings are done last. Clean out heating and plumbing systems.
Flooded basements should be
drained and cleaned as soon as possible. However, structural damage can
occur by pumping water out too quickly. After the floodwaters around
your property have subsided, begin draining the basement in stages ... about
1/3 of the water volume each day.
Contact the local
American Red Cross chapter for assistance.
F.Y.I. Materials
FACT SHEET -
Flood
Flash Floods
Flood Recovery Steps
Floodplain
Management Summary
How to File a
Flood Insurance Claim
My bank said I'm in the
floodplain and have to buy insurance
After a Flood
The only thing worse than a flood is finding out you're not
as protected as you thought you were, because homeowners insurance doesn't
cover floods. But National Flood Insurance does. It's the best way
to recover from flood damage without going into debt or having to qualify for
disaster relief. For more information on the National Flood Insurance
Program visit our Flood Insurance page.
