Flooding
A flood is an accumulation of water on land as a result of heavy rainfall or utility failure. Flooding that occurs as a result of a utility failure has the potential to affect operations on campus due to damage to facilities or work spaces. Heavy rainfall can also cause flooding by inundating rivers and streams as well as overwhelming the capability of storm water sewage systems to remove water from streets and highways.
In advance of approaching storms, the National Weather Service issues flash flood watches and warnings, so citizens are able to make sound judgments about the appropriate actions to take. Remember the following:
- Flash flood watch indicates conditions are favorable for flash flashing flooding to occur in the area.
- Flash flood warning indicates flash flooding is imminent or already occurring in the area.
If you encounter flooding in a campus facility, take the following actions:
- Report incidents. Report all instances of flooding in campus facilities to Facilities Work Control.
- Protect equipment and documents. If flooding appears likely to affect your work area, take steps to ensure that equipment and important documents are not damaged.
- Avoid areas of standing water. Flooding can cause damage to electrical systems, potentially resulting in dangerous currents of electricity moving through the water.
If you encounter flooding on roadways, take the following actions:
- Slow down. Hydroplaning is a loss of steering or braking control due to a layer of water that prevents direct contact between vehicle tires and the road surface. Slow down on wet roads to prevent your vehicle from hydroplaning.
- Turn around, don’t drown. Do not overestimate your vehicle’s ability to drive through floodwater. One foot of water will float most cars, and two feet of moving water will sweep away most vehicles.
Posted on Oct 28, 2010 - 12:57 PM
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