What YOU can do:

• Know your flood risk and elevation above flood stage. Do your local streams or rivers flood easily? If so, be prepared to move to a place of safety. Know your evacuation routes.
• Keep your automobile fueled; if electric power is cut off, gas stations may not be able to operate pumps for several days.
• Store drinking water in clean bathtubs and in various containers. Water service may be interrupted.
• Keep a stock of food that requires little cooking and no refrigeration; electric power may be interrupted.
• Keep first aid supplies on hand.
• Keep a NOAA Weather Radio, a battery-powered portable radio, emergency cooking equipment, and flashlights in working order.
• Install check valves in building sewer traps to prevent flood water from backing up into the drains of your home.

What YOUR Community can do:

Local Flood Warning Systems

Assist hospitals and other operations which are critically affected by power failure by arranging for auxiliary power supplies.

River/rainfall readings are valuable to local emergency management agencies(EMA) and the National Weather Service(NWS) in assessing flood conditions and taking appropriate actions. Advanced warning provided by early detection is critical to saving lives. Automatic flood detection systems are available commercially for flood-prone communities. Contact your local NWS office or emergency management agency for further information on LOCAL FLOODING WARNING SYSTEMS.