Did you know that a car will float in less than 2 feet of moving water and can be swept downstream into deeper waters? This is one reason floods kill more people trapped in vehicles than anywhere else. Victims of floods have often put themselves in perilous situations by ignoring warnings about travel or mistakenly thinking that a washed-out bridge is still there. The threat to life posed by a flood can be avoided if people can evacuate before the waters reach their buildings or close their evacuation routes. This requires advance notice that a flood is coming and a system to disseminate flood warnings. Only on the Fox River in Kane County is there enough lead time to allow protective steps, such as sandbagging, to be taken.

The following safety tips should be followed if you find yourself in a flood situation:

• Do not walk through flowing water. Drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths. Currents can be deceptive; six inces of moving water can knock you off your feet. Use a pole or stick to ensure that the ground is still there before you go through an area where the water is not flowing.

• Do not drive through a flooded area. More people drown in their cars than anywhere else. Don’t drive around road barriers; the road or bridge may be washed out.

• Stay away from power lines and electrical wires. The number two flood killer after drowning is electrocution. Electrical current can travel through water. Report downed power lines to the Police or Sheriff by calling 911.

• Look out for animals that have been flooded out of their homes and who may seek shelter in yours. Use or pole or stick to poke and turn things over and scare away small animals.

• Look before you step. After a flood, the ground and floors are covered with debris including broken bottles and nails. Floors and stairs that have been covered with mud can be very slippery.

• Be alert for gas leaks. Use a flashlight to inspect for damage. Don’t smoke or use candles, lanterns, or open flames unless you know the gas has been turned off and the area has been ventilated.

• Carbon monoxide exhaust kills. Use a generator or other gasoline-powered machine outdoors. The same goes for camping stoves. Charcoal fumes are especially deadly – cook with charcoal outdoors.

• Clean everything that got wet. Flood waters have picked up sewage and chemicals from roads, farms, factories, and storage buildings. Spoiled food, flooded cosmetics, and medicine can be health hazards. When in doubt, throw them out.

• Take good care of yourself. Recovering from a flood is a big job. It is tough on both the body and the spirit and the effects a disaster has on you and your family may last a long time.
  

For additional information visit the
American Red Cross website http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/
0,1082,0_585_,00.html