Protect Yourself After a Flood

Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States.  Even if you live in the Midwest rather than coastal areas, you are still susceptible to flooding. Big Bags USA has discussed how to prepare for floods many times and even what to do should you find yourself caught in a flood.  However, there are also precautions you should take after a flood occurs to ensure a safe return to your neighborhood and home. After rising water has stopped, be sure to consider the following precautions.

Inside Safety 

  • If your home was severely flooded, you may only be able to enter when officials say it is safe to do so. Stay out of any building surrounded by floodwaters.
  • Use extreme caution when entering flooded buildings. There may be hidden damage, particularly in the foundation. Personal safety considerations include protecting yourself from electric shock, mold contamination, asbestos, and lead paint. Turn off electricity at the main breaker or fuse box. Homeowners who are unfamiliar with electricity or their home’s electrical systems should contact their local power company or a qualified electrician to assist them in making their property safe from electrical hazards after a flood. Check for loose boards and slippery floors.
  • Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or you are standing in water.
  • Shut off utilities to a flooded home or building.
  • Use flashlights, not lanterns, torches, or matches, to examine buildings. Flammable gases may be inside the structure and open flames may cause a fire or explosion.
  • If you turned off your gas, a licensed professional is required to turn it back on. 
  • Carbon monoxide exhaust kills. Use a generator or other gasoline-powered machine ONLY outdoors and away from windows so the fumes do not get inside. The same goes for camping stoves. Fumes from charcoal are also deadly—cook with charcoal ONLY outdoors. For more information, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website on preventing carbon monoxide poisoning after an emergency at http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/cofacts.asp.

Outside Safety 

  • Stay away from moving water, especially near rivers, streams, drainage systems and coastal areas.
  • Avoid wading in floodwater, which may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, or raw sewage. 
  • Watch for dangerous debris (e.g., broken glass, metal fragments), dead animals or venomous snakes that may be in floodwaters. Before walking through debris, use a stick to check for hidden dangers. Underground or downed power lines may electrically charge the water. 
  • Do not drive in areas where floodwater covers the road.
  • Stay away from downed power lines and report them to 911 or the power company’s emergency number.
  • Stay away from damaged areas unless police, fire, or relief organizations have requested your assistance.

Health and Sanitation

  • Listen for news reports to learn whether the community’s water supply is safe to drink.
  • Service damaged septic tanks and leaching systems as soon as possible. A damaged sewage system is a serious health hazard. 
  • Have wells checked for contamination from bacteria and chemicals.
  • Clean and disinfect everything that got wet. Mud left from floodwater can contain sewage, bacteria, and chemicals. Take precautions and wear appropriate protective equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, and face masks. Follow five basic steps for post-flood building restoration, including (1) air out, (2) move out, (3) tear out, (4) clean out, and (5) dry out. Seek out professional services and/or guidance before attempting to repair flood-damaged property.
  • Throw out any food, including canned items, that was not maintained at a proper temperature or has been exposed to floodwaters. Do not eat food from a flooded garden. When in doubt, throw it out.
  • Remove and replace any drywall or other paneling that has been underwater. Use a moisture meter to make sure that wooden studs and framing are dry before replacing the drywall. Mold growth in hidden places is a significant health hazard.

Other Precautions

  • Use local alerts, radio stations, and other local information sources to get information and advice as soon as it's available. 
  • Use text messaging or social media to communicate with family and friends. Phone systems are often overwhelmed following a disaster, so use phones only for emergency calls. 
  • Photograph damage to your property and contact your insurance agent. Do what you can to prevent further damage that insurance may not cover (e.g., putting a tarp on a damaged roof). 
  • Look for signs of depression or anxiety related to this experience, such as feeling physically and mentally drained; having difficulty making decisions or staying focused; becoming easily frustrated on a more frequent basis; feeling tired, sad, numb, lonely, or worried; or experiencing changes in appetite or sleep patterns. Seek help from local mental health providers if you detect these signs in yourself or others.

Big Bags USA is here to help prevent this devistation caused by severe flooding.  Our flood control systems provide lightening fast flood protection at a fraction of the cost.  Our flood barriers are packaged seven systems per pallet. That’s 105 linear foot of protection that can be easily stockpiled. All flood mitigation plans should include an easily stored product like Big Bags USA.

For more information on being prepared before, during and after a flood, visit: http://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1409002852888-3c5d1f64f12df02aa801901cc7c311ca/how_to_prepare_flood_033014_508.pdf

If you have an immediate need for our systems, or have any questions for us, please Call us Toll Free at 1-800-337-0537 or visit www.BigBagsUSA.com.


D.R.I.P.S.
Disaster Relief & Innovative
Protection Systems, LLC
(573) 480-6699

Let's Connect!

ALWAYS READY TO HELP LOCAL, STATE, & FEDERAL AGENCIES ... BE PREPARED!   

Location: Camdenton, MO 65020, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ways to Use Big Bags USA® - Part 1

Image
Big Bags USA Flood Barriers are an innovative solution to a huge problem. Flooding occurs every single year across the nation. It’s caused by many different types of occurrences, both weather-related, and often times from failures due to man-made sources. The devastation that can be caused from a single flood is incredible, but it’s also heartbreaking to watch. This is what drove us to create the Big Bags Flood Barrier. Our system was made to be easy to afford, fast to deploy, and easy to save for the next time. Here are several ways you can use Big Bags flood barriers , and how they can make all of the difference in your situation. Flood Control This is one of the most common and popular uses for our easy deploy flood barriers . From the 2019 spring floods to the hurricanes on the East coast, our barriers are seen across the nation helping to control floodwaters. This could mean that we are protecting buildings from the water with these barriers, or even roads. Flood control ca...
Read more

Cofferdam Construction Barriers Made Easy

Image
Big Bags USA heavy-duty construction barriers provide a re-usable alternative to sheet pile cofferdams, sandbag barriers, water barriers, single FIBC bags, super sacks, and aqua dams. One system (comprised of 5 individual bags connected to one another) is 15’ long, 36” wide, and 40” tall. One, five bag system, can be placed and filled by two men in less than 10 minutes. No other barrier can be filled and placed faster than the Big Bags USA construction barrier system . Fast, reusable barriers that save time and money. Why Big Bags USA is the BEST: 10mm thick polypropylene, made with the highest UV resistant polymers available to increase longevity in sunlight. The flexibility of the barrier allows the product to be used on any an all surfaces without the need for trenching or leveling to get a good seal. 200 times faster to deploy than traditional sandbag walls. Uses 1/2 the amount of sand used in a sandbag wall built to the same height. Not only is the barrier re-usable, the sand can...
Read more

Common Causes of Dam Failures

Image
A dam is built to store large volumes of water, control the flow of water, or divert water flowing from upstream. Nothing is quite as catastrophic as the flooding that is caused from a dam failure. Dam failures may lead to loss of lives and destruction of the environment, and Big Bags USA Flood Barriers wants to help. Our team is honored to get out and support those who are in need of assistance, and we do quite often. Here are a few things you may want to know about dam failures and how Big Bags USA can help with the best flood barriers on the market . What Causes Dam Failures? Extreme Inflow Extreme water inflow from prolonged rainfall and flooding is one the major causes of dam failures. Dams are designed to survive extreme weather conditions, but prolonged seasons of rain and flooding are capable of putting pressure on the dam to cause dam failure, and possible collapsing of the dam. Poor Maintenance Poor maintenance can be a huge trigger for dam failure. Dams require regular mai...
Read more