For Your Home
Before a Flood Hits
- Ensure drains, gutters, and downspouts are not clogged and allow water to flow freely.
- Identify, learn and practice evacuation routes.
- Identify shelters or a safe place to go if you need to evacuate your home.
- Have an emergency supply kit ready to go. See emergency kit preparedness below.
- Ensure important documents are placed in a waterproof container. A good practice is to create digital, password-protected copies of those documents.
- Move valuables to higher places in the home.
During a Flood
- If evacuation orders have been issued, evacuate immediately. Use designated evacuation routes and comply with all road closures to ensure you’re not hindering first responders’ ability to navigate the area.
- If you are experiencing a medical emergency, dial 9-1-1.
- Keep up to date about evolving emergency information through the Emergency Alert System (EAS) or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
- Avoid walking, swimming, and driving through flooded areas.
- Avoid bridges with fast moving water underneath, as the bridges may wash away with no warning.
- Remain in your vehicle if trapped in rapidly moving water. If water begins to fill your vehicle, get on the roof if possible.
- Get to higher ground or the highest level of a building. Avoid sheltering in closed areas, such as attics, to prevent getting trapped by rising water
After a Flood Hits
- Heed all instructions from authorities.
- Only return home once authorities have deemed it safe to do so.
- Use a generator outside only if you’ve experienced a power loss.
- Avoid driving except in the case of an emergency.
- Take precautions to maintain your health during clean up. Mold growth, dangerous debris, and bacteria can be lurking in standing water. Wear a mask, heavy-duty work gloves, and protective clothing/shoes.
- Understand the risk of electrocution. Turn off the electricity in your house if it is safe to do so. Avoid touching any electrical equipment that is wet or if you’re standing in water.
- Keep an eye out for unwanted critters in your house. Snakes and other animals may have found their way in during the flood.
For Your Business
Before a Flood Hits
- Take pictures of your property and building. It will make the claims process smoother in the event your business sustains damage.
- Clean out floor drains and catch basins and check drainage pumps.
- Anchor and fill above-ground tanks with water or product to keep them in place during the storm. Fill the fuel tanks on your emergency generator and fire pumps.
- Ensure automobiles have full fuel tanks.
During a Flood
- Obtain and keep accessible as much cash as possible as banks may not be open following the storm.
- Shut down production processes safely and turn off the electricity at the main power source.
- Evacuate employees.
- Keep up to date about evolving emergency information through the Emergency Alert System (EAS) or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
- Avoid walking, swimming, and driving through flooded areas.
- Get to higher ground or the highest level of a building. Avoid sheltering in closed areas, such as attics, to prevent getting trapped by rising water.
After a Flood Hits
- Call employees to ensure that they and their families are safe and secure.
- Check circuits and equipment before restoring power.
- Assemble a recovery team to begin to implement your business continuity plan.
- Call your insurance agent, broker or insurance company immediately to report how, when and where the loss or damage occurred. Have your policy number handy, and give them a general description of damages.
Contact us for more tips and information about how to stay safe during extreme weather events and natural disasters.
This material has been prepared for informational purposes only. BRPGroup, Inc. and its affiliates, do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. Please consult with your own tax, legal or accounting professionals before engaging in any transaction.
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