It was a difficult season in terms of high water and flooding. In June 2008, flooding along the Mississippi affected districts in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin. Floods and flash floods resulting from a variety of natural phenomena and are among the most devastating natural disasters. Preparing for a flood in advance, you and your family survive a flood, and minimizes damage to your property. The following tips are adapted from suggestions made by the American Red Cross.

Stay informed. Stay informed about the risks of flooding. Check with your local Red Cross, planning, regional planning department or office of emergency management is the risk of flooding in your area. More risk, the more important it is to be prepared to take action.


When it rains always last for several days or several hours, look for the possibility of
flooding. Watch out for flood emergency radio and television stations.
Sign up for flood warnings text from the National Weather Service, if available in your area.

understand the warnings. There are different levels of warnings and watches were from the National Weather Service reported. You should know that: can

flood to develop over several hours or several days.
Flash floods can develop within a few minutes to several hours.
A flood WATCH means that there is a possibility of flooding in your area. A flash flood WATCH means that the possibility of a flash flood occurring in your area.
A flood Clock indicates that floods have already or will soon occur in your area. A flash flood warning means that flash flooding is already happening or will soon in your area.

Advance Preparation

It is not enough, a flood, if you hear a flood Clock prepare. Advance preparation for a flood can save your life and the lives of your family, as well as reduce the financial impact that your family can join for years.

Get Flood Insurance. The chances are good that the flooding is not included in your standard insurance policy holders. If you are not sure what to cover the flood damage to your insurance, check your contract. If it were not for damage to your home against flooding from a natural disaster, such as insurance against floods.
assemble an emergency kit. A family emergency kit should include: first aid kit and essential medications, canned food and an opener and water – at least 3 liters per person a flashlight and batteries, radio and extra batteries required and special items for infants, are family members of elderly or disabled, and finally, protective clothing , bedding or sleeping bags.

to turn off utilities. Make sure you know how to turn off electricity, gas and water when you are prompted to do so. If you are likely to be away from home, be sure that a responsible adult or teenager at home knows how.

know where you go. To identify the places you go when the authorities of the area to be evacuated. Here are some possibilities with a friend in another city, a shelter or a motel. Identify several places where one or more inaccessible />

When a flood WATCH.
Move your furniture and valuables (including a sealed box of insurance documents, bank documents and identity cards) to the upper floors of your home.
Make sure the gas tank of the car is full in case you must evacuate.

When a Flash Flood WATCH: his
signs of flash flooding and ready to evacuate at any time />

If there is a flood warning.
to a radio or television stations for local information and advice is a.
evacuate as soon as possible if they were told to do so.
If time, close the main gas valve and turn off the switch.
statistical floods as the weather, the increase in local flooding and display changes for the use of data from future flooding.

If it think a flash flood warning or if you flood has already begun evacuating
immediately. You have only seconds to escape.
move to higher ground.

evacuation
Identify escape routes flood in advance. Do you know the fastest routes to a higher level.
Do not go around the barricades or drive through the water in the streets.
If your car stalls in rising water, leave immediately and go in the direction where you came from.
Avoid shortcuts. Follow evacuation routes.

Be prepared to evacuate at any time, although he prepared to face the consequences of flooding is essential. The closer you prepare your family safe in the event of a flood.
Indiana Homeowners Insurance