March 14, 2017 | Tip of the Month
Spring brings thoughts of warmer weather and longer days. But it can also bring sudden changes in weather that result in dangerous flooding. Whether it’s from heavy rain, and/or snow melt, areas that are normally dry can sudden turn to flood stage. Be ready! Here are some tips to help you stay afloat in case of a flood.
Planning Ahead
- Talk with your studio mates and family members and develop an emergency communications plan.
- What’s your evacuation plan? Think about how you would exit your studio and what you would take with you.
- Look around your studio. What “flood ready” improvements could you make?
- Be a survivor. If a disaster hits, here are steps to jumpstart your recovery.
- Listen to the experts.
- Damage from floods is not covered by home or business insurance. Even if your studio has not been flooded in the past, flood insurance might be a good choice.
- Learn more about the risk of flood at your studio’s location by viewing your flood map at FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center. Enter your studio’s address and select “Interactive Map” when the first map displays.
Staying Safe
- Stay connected.
- Add a “severe weather alert” app to your smartphone.
- Put a battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA Weather Radio in your emergency preparedness kit.
- Turn around; Don’t drown! Never drive or walk through flooded streets. It takes less water than you might think for you or your vehicle to be swept away.