What is a Flood?
There are two types of floods:
-
Flood:
An overflow of water from streams, rivers, creeks, or drainage ditches onto normally dry land. This is a longer event that can last days or weeks.
-
Flash Flood:
A flood caused by heavy rain or excessive rainfall over a short period of time, usually less than 6 hours. They are usually characterized by raging torrents that go through river beds, streets, mountain canyons and sweep everything before it. This can happen within minutes or hours of excessive rain. These can also occur with no rain if a dam breaks or an ice jam quickly clears.
Preparing and Staying Safe During a Flood:
-
Stay informed about flood predictions and warnings
-
Create a communication plan with your family
-
Prepare an emergency kit and your home
-
Charge essential electronics
-
Move to higher ground
-
Obey evacuation orders
-
Don't go into rooms with outlets or cords covered by water
-
Avoid flood waters. It only takes 6 inches of moving water to knock you down
-
Don't drive into flooded streets - Turn Around, Don't Drown
-
Check out our Resources section below for additional resources and steps you can take
Flood Alerts:
-
Flood Watch:
Be prepared! Conditions are favorable for flood conditions. Flooding may not occur, but is possible.
-
Flood Advisory:
Be aware! Flooding is not expected to be bad enough for a warning, but may still be significant enough to cause an inconvenience.
-
Flood Warning:
Take Action! This is issued when flooding is imminent or already occurring.
-
Flash Flood Warning:
Take Action! This is issued when flash flooding is imminent or already occurring. Move to higher ground. This is a sudden flood and may happen without rain, especially with rain occurring upstream
References and More Information:
Flood Safety Tips and Resources (weather.gov)
What is a Flood? (floodsmart.gov)
Floods (ready.gov)
Flood Safety (redcross.org)
