On Sunday night, heavy rain caused significant flooding in New York’s Hudson Valley, killing at least one person, flooding streets, and forcing road closures.
The National Weather Service issued flash flood advisories for sections of southeastern New York, calling the conditions “life-threatening.” According to the Orange County executive, Steven M Neuhaus, one individual died as a result of the water.
State Route 9W was flooded, and the Palisades Interstate Parkway got so drenched that parts of it were closed, according to a statement from the New York State Police.
Typically, people think of hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires when considering natural disasters. Floods aren’t typically on people’s minds. Floods are the most frequent natural disaster to strike the United States each year, and they are brought on by hurricanes, surging storm surges, torrential rainfall, and even thawing snow. Why then do certain individuals frequently fail to take floods seriously? Flooding needs to be taken more seriously because it is the extreme weather occurrence that results in the most destruction and damage. For instance, even a single inch of water in your house can result in $25,000 in damage, which your home insurance is unlikely to pay for.
These are some of the most crucial flood safety advice you should keep in mind to be ready and stay safe. Understanding the difference between a flood watch and a flood warning is the first step in thinking about how to prepare for a flood. When the weather is conducive to causing flooding—rain for a lengthy period of time, increasing storm surge, etc.—a flood watch is issued. Even while the circumstances are ideal, a flood watch does not guarantee flooding will happen. But as soon as a flood watch is issued, you should start making arrangements. A flood warning, on the other hand, is when weather conditions are primed to create flooding. If a flood warning has been issued in your area, this means flooding is expected and you should prepare accordingly and know what to do when it hits.
Here’s how you can prepare for floods
1. Know whether you live in a flood zone
You should be aware of if your home is situated within a FEMA flood zone before making a purchase. Using the FEMA flood map online will make it simple to check.
2. Buy flood insurance
You should purchase flood insurance right away if you discover that your house has a medium- to high risk of flooding. Whether or not you live in a FEMA-designated flood zone, it is crucial for homeowners to have flood insurance because home insurance does not offer protection against flood damage. Remember that flood insurance doesn’t kick in until 30 days after the purchase date, so it’s crucial to buy the required protection well before the weather gets bad.
3. Evacuate if it’s mandatory or necessary
If there is an evacuation order in effect for your area, you need to leave right away. In addition to ensuring the safety of the general public, evacuation orders prevent first responders from entering the affected region in the event of a crisis.
4. Get the things you need to get through safely
Get enough supplies to keep you safe for at least a week if an evacuation is not required. This entails storing enough non-perishable food and drinking water for your entire family. Make sure your medication, batteries, dry clothing, blankets, and storage space are high enough so that only small flooding can access them. Investing in sandbags and positioning them in front of all outside doors is the greatest approach to stop floodwaters from entering your house. Sand will assist with water absorption and deter minor flooding.
5. Put important documents in a waterproof container
Important paperwork like insurance policies, social security cards, and passports should be kept in a waterproof container to prevent water damage. This will also save you a tonne of time in the event that flooding occurs in your home.
Things you must avoid during floods
6. Don’t walk or drive through floodwaters
If there is flooding in your region, it’s crucial that you avoid going somewhere that might be submerged. Driving and walking through floodwater are particularly risky activities because they could contain hazardous debris or be conductive due to downed powerlines. Roads may be washed out or there may be sinkholes under the flood water since the earth will be mushy and wet as a result of the excessive water. The best defense against flooding is complete avoidance.
7. Go to the highest level of your home
You and your family should relocate to the highest level of your house if flooding is predicted in your neighborhood. Look for safety on a higher floor if your apartment or condo is on the first floor. Additionally, it’s crucial that you avoid attics without windows or exterior exits. If the floodwaters get up there, they might block off the oxygen and become quite dangerous. The most crucial thing you can keep in mind is how to prepare and what to do during a flood, even though it is difficult to prevent floodwaters from invading your property. You’ll have a higher chance of avoiding injury during a flood if you pay close attention to these 10 flood safety recommendations.
8. Stay off bridges that go over water
No of how high or low the water typically is, bridges over flowing water should be avoided. Since flooding debris might create an impromptu dam upstream, you never know when an influx of water might rush over the bridge at any time.