As we begin the first day of fall, we also enter into the peak of flood/hurricane/tropical storm season. Having already been affected by Tropical Storm Laura about a month ago, the Gulf of Mexico is in for another bout with Tropical Storm Beta, which made landfall late last night along the Texas coastline. Houston already has up to 24 inches of rain and 2-3 feet of water flooding the streets, with more than 11 million people currently under a flood watch (in Texas and Lousiana). As this storm continues to brew and stall over mainland Texas for the next couple of days, these numbers are sure to increase and cause major amounts of damage to the city and its surrounding areas. However, there are ways to remain safe and properly prepare yourself and your family during these times (and during a hurricane too). Here are some tips for preparing and staying safe during a flood:
Before a flood
Water
As areas begin to flood, water from your taps, fridge, and such will begin to become too contaminated to be safe enough to drink as is. So, make sure to stock up on water. This means making sure that there is at least 1 gallon of water per person and pet in your family. If you are not able to leave your place of residence to stock up on water, then make sure to thoroughly clean your sinks and tubs and fill them with water beforehand. Another way to make sure that you’re consuming clean water, if you still have power in your area, is to boil your water prior to consumption. Boiling the water makes sure to get rid of all of the toxins and bacteria that would have entered your water pipes from the overflow of the flooding water.
Food
Along with water, it is also important to make sure that you have enough non-perishable foods that don’t require a lot of preparation. Healthy snacks that are high in fats and protein to keep you full as well as give you energy are the best way to go. These foods can include jerky, nuts, dried fruits, granola bars, trail mix, packaged snacks (Goldfish, pretzels, crackers, etc.). Making sure that you have, at least what the CDC recommends, 3 days worth of food supplies to tide you over. Make sure to include your pet(s) and their needs as well during this time.
Electronics
During excessive amounts of flooding and storms, areas tend to lose power. If this happens, you need to be prepared. You should make sure that you have enough flashlights as well as batteries in case the ones in the flashlights need to be replaced. Amazon has some great deals on flashlights that come with batteries, but you should also stock up on extra batteries just to be safe. You can also use candles if you don’t have batteries. But anything to provide yourself with light.Â
Along with flashlights, make sure that at least one person’s phone is charged throughout the time that you are experiencing the power outage. If anything happens and you need to call for help, you’ll need at least one good working phone. In order to make sure that their phone remains charged, you can use a phone bank or portable charger. Have the portable charger completely charged just in case you do lose power. You never know what might happen, so it’s better to be safe.Â
Medical and other supplies
Having a small first aid kit with essential supplies such as Band-Aids, bacterial disinfectant, as well as soap and hand sanitizer (with alcohol contents greater than 60%) is incredibly important. You can easily build this kit yourself, however, you can also buy a first aid kit with all of these essentials pre-packed for you. Along with these essentials, it’s smart to locate and place everyone’s prescription medications into this first aid kit as well. Especially if you have to evacuate, having all of these items in one place will make it easier to leave without scrambling for things at the last minute.
Along with making a first aid kit, you should also make a “go bag”. This bag should be a duffle bag that has essentials for each member of the family. In case of an emergency evacuation, this bag should contain food, water, medical supplies, as well as phone chargers, a change of clothes, face masks, and other necessities to help you make your evacuation process as seamless as possible. If you have pets, make sure to factor them into your “go bag” packing and include food and things for them as well.
Move to higher ground
Even before the flooding starts, it would be wise to move your valuables to higher grounds. Things like official documents, electronics, and other expensive items, should be moved. If you live in a two-story home, then move your valuables to the second floor, if you only have one-story to work with, then consider using your attic as storage for these items.
If your place of residence is quickly taking on water, it is then time for you and the other residents to begin also moving to higher ground. Again, in the case of a multiple-story building, moving up a floor should be enough, but if you live in a one-story building, then your roof might be the safest place for you to go.
Water-proofing
While moving your valuables to higher ground, you should also consider water-proofing your important documents. This ensures that even if the higher ground in which you move your valuables is flooded, the documents that you need are still dry and intact. The documents that you should waterproof might vary from person to person, however, the common documents such as birth certificates, passports, insurance papers, social security cards, and things like that are the ones to protect and keep safe. You can water-proof your documents by placing them in a sealed container or zippered bags.Â
During a flood
Driving
If you are driving during this time, it’s important that you stay extra vigilant! Most highways and roads in the Houston-area have flood meters that let drivers know just how much water is on the road in front of them, however, there are also areas that don’t have these signs. Regardless of whether or not these signs are present, it is a safer option to turn around if you see water on the roads. Don’t try to drive through it. Water is extremely powerful and can push back at your car, even when you are trying to drive through it. It is also recommended to stay off of bridges with flowing water because the force of the current could cause you excessive damage if you get caught.
Along with driving, it is important that you don’t try to walk through the flood waters. Because the flood waters are often mixed with dirt and debris, it is hard to see what’s in the water. So, there could be broken power lines, bacteria, and other harmful agents within the water. It is best to stay away from the flood waters until authorities say that it is safe, or until the water levels decrease.
Evacuation
You should be constantly listening to the news as well as up-to-date weather reports to see if your area is being told to evacuate. If told to evacuate, you should do so immediately. Do not stall or think that the storm will pass. While evacuating, avoid going around barriers or stressing, the barriers that have been placed, have been placed by officials for your safety. So, remain calm and proceed to evacuate to safety. Again, it is better to be safe and do as the officials tell you to.
If you are trapped and cannot evacuate, you should move to higher ground and immediately call for help. If you live in a one-story house, avoid going into the attic as you can get trapped by the rising waters, instead, get to your roof and immediately begin calling and signaling for help.
Since there is currently a pandemic occurring, try and see if you can evacuate to a friend’s or family member’s house. Try to avoid going to the shelters unless you absolutely have to. Even if you are going to a friend’s or family member’s house, it is important to remember that their safety is just as important as yours, so go prepared with a few face masks as well as extra cleaning supplies.
After a flood
Check for mold
If you were forced to evacuate, or if your place of residence took on even a little bit of water, it is best to check for mold before continuing to live there. Mold can cause structural damage as well as bodily damage if inhaled. So, make sure you wear proper protective clothing and shoes as well as masks to prevent yourself from breathing in the bacteria and mold and to keep from being physically harmed.
Listen to reports
Before drinking the water or turning the electricity back on in your house, it’s best to wait till someone has officially announced that it is safe to do these things. Especially with the water, city officials have to conduct multiple tests on the water as well as in multiple areas before confirming that it is safe to consume or even use for bathing and washing hands. If you live closer to an industrial area, your area might be one of the last places to receive the green light in terms of water safety because you live in such a high-risk environment. So, take these precautions into account before drinking or using the water or even turning the power back on.
Additional Tips
COVID-19 precautions
Since we are battling a global pandemic in addition to a hurricane/tropical storm/flooding, it is important to remember to include face masks into your go-bags and medical kits. If you are forced to evacuate from your home and go to a shelter, it is critical that you come equipped with face masks so that you are able to remain safe from the floods as well as the virus.
Unless there is a medical emergency, many officials will ask that you shelter in place, however, if they find that you are in need of emergency care, they will send responders to you as soon as possible, all that they ask is that you wear face masks before they show up to help you.
