Now's The Time To Protect Your Home From Spring Floods
Release Date: February 11, 2005
Release Number: 1539-372
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ORLANDO, Fla. -- Hurricane season is not the only time of the year to prepare for flooding. Officials from the State of Florida Emergency Response Team (SERT) and the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urge Floridians to prepare now before heavy rains and spring floods begin.
"Whether your community has recurrent or occasional flooding, there are defensive measures that can help minimize or prevent flood damage to homes and property," said Craig Fugate, SERT state coordinating officer. "I realize many Floridians are still recovering from the four hurricanes, but taking action now to minimize flood losses will go a long way."
Floods can occur anywhere. Florida has a flat terrain and after heavy rains, when the ground is already saturated, water can flow across fields, yards and streets. More than 25 percent of the National Flood Insurance Program's flood insurance claims are for structures outside identified flood plains.
"Flooding is America's most common natural disaster. You can't stop a flood, but there are things you can do before a flood to minimize loss and ensure your safety," said Bill Carwile, federal coordinating officer. "Buying flood insurance is the best way to protect yourself from flood losses."
State and local officials recommend the following to minimize and protect your losses from flood damage:
- Get flood insurance coverage. Homeowners insurance doesn't cover flooding. You can obtain flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program. It takes 30 days for a policy to go into effect, so don't wait. Call your insurance agent, or find an agent near you by calling 1-800-427-2419.
- Visit the FloodSmart Web site at www.floodsmart.gov. You can find out about your flood risk, how to protect your property and how to obtain flood insurance.
- Stay informed of weather conditions for your area.
- Be prepared to move valuable possessions to upper floors or to safe ground if possible.
- Plan for evacuation. Plan and practice a flood evacuation route, ask someone out of state to be your "family contact" in case people are separated and be sure everyone knows the contact's address and phone number.
- Have emergency supplies on hand. Food, bottled water, first aid supplies, medicines and a battery-operated radio should be ready to go when you are. Visit www.ready.gov for a complete disaster supply checklist.
- Have a working sump pump. Buy and install a sump pump with back-up power.
- Anchor fuel tanks. An unanchored tank can be torn free by floodwaters.
- Elevate your furnace, water heater, washer and dryer. They should be at least 12 inches above the projected flood elevation.
- Take photos or videos of important possessions. If your home is damaged in a flood, documentation will help you in filing a flood insurance claim.
The State Emergency Response Team (SERT) is a collaboration of Florida's state agencies led by the state coordinating officer. SERT's mission is to ensure that Florida is prepared to respond to emergencies, recover from them, and mitigate their impacts. Visit http://www.floridadisaster.org for the latest information on the hurricane relief efforts.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 23-Feb-2005 14:57:09