Would you know what to do if your car stalled in a flooded street? If floodwaters damaged your home, would you be financially prepared to repair it?
State public safety officials are focusing this week on answering those questions and more during Flood Safety Preparedness Week.
The annual observance, led by the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) and National Weather Service (NWS), is dedicated to educating the public about dealing with flood threats.
In the last five years, nine large-scale flooding events made the list of ‘Billion-Dollar Disasters’ nationwide. Georgia alone has documented more than 780 flood reports, amounting to $12.8 million dollars in damage to homes and infrastructure.
“Individuals and families are left with little or no time to prepare or evacuate due to flooding happening at any time of the year. Early preparation for this event is vital to prevent severe impacts of flooding to life and property,” said GEMA/HS Director Chris Stallings.
WATCH 2020 flood rescue in Habersham County
Flood safety tips
According to Stallings, the first step in preparing is to make a plan, build an emergency kit, and communicate with others about what to do in the event of a flood.
Other safety tips featured this week include:
Turn Around, Don’t Drown: Never attempt to drive through floodwaters. Two feet of moving water can carry away a full-sized car.
Flood Hazards: Stay out of floodwaters if possible. The water can be contaminated or electrically charged. However, if your car stalls in rapidly rising waters, leave the vehicle and seek higher ground.
NWS Water Resources and Services: Many homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover flood damage. Make sure you’re financially ready for a flood event by visiting www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program. And remember: flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period to become effective, therefore acting sooner rather than later is advisable.
Partners and Partner Services: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) can provide resources and tips to help you prepare for a flood.
New website to improve flood reporting
The NWS is preparing to launch a new flood prediction website to enhance flood safety further. The National Weather Prediction Service (NWPS) is expected to launch on March 27 to replace the agency’s Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS).
“This legacy system needed to be modernized to support newer innovation with technology supported by scalable infrastructure that uses services-driven architecture,” the federal weather agency said.
For more flood safety tips, visit the GEMA/HS website or Ready. gov.
