In addition to having flood insurance, knowing following flood hazard terms will help you recognize and prepare for a flood.

To prepare for a flood, you should:

• Avoid building in a flood prone area unless you elevate and reinforce your home.
  
  
• Elevate the furnace, water heater, and electric panel if susceptible to flooding.
  
  
• Install "check valves" in sewer traps to prevent floodwater from backing up into the drains of your home.
  
  
• Contact community officials to find out if they are planning to construct barriers (levees, beams, floodwalls) to stop floodwater from entering the homes in your area.
  
  
• Seal the walls in your basement with waterproofing compounds to avoid seepage.
  
  
• Find out how to keep food safe during and after and emergency by visiting www.FoodSafety.gov

Immediately Before The Flood

• Bring in any outdoor items that might cause damage or be lost if flooded. You do not want to go into flood waters to retrieve them.
  
  
• If you are not at home, go to high ground and wait.
• Scrub bathtubs and sinks with bleach, then rinse and fill them and any extra bottles with clean water for sanitary use in case the water supply becomes contaminated.
  
• Use this time to move your valuable possessions to the highest levels of the house or to the safest area.
  
  
• If instructed by authorities to evacuate, turn off water and electricity at the main valve or switch.

Prepare Your Business

Plan to stay in business, talk to your employees, and protect your investment.

• Carefully assess how your company functions, both internally and externally, to determine which staff, materials, procedures and equipment are absolutely necessary to keep the business operating.
  
  
• Identify operations critical to survival and recovery.
  
  
• Plan what you will do if your building, plant or store is not accessible.
  
  
• Consider if you can run the business from a different location or from your home in the event of a disaster.
  
  
• Develop relationships with other companies to use their facilities in case a disaster makes your location unusable.
  
  
• Learn about programs, services, and resources at U.S. Small Business Administration.
  
  

Pre-Disaster Preparation - Prepare Your Home

Make sure you set a timeline to complete this task! By giving yourself a deadline, you will be able to complete it in a timely manner.

Conduct a ONE HOUR INVENTORY

Inside your house:

• Go through your house/office and video tape/take pictures of your valuables
  
  
• Remember to include pictures of smaller valuables like jewelry, china, silver, etc.
  
  
• Also take pictures that include these items in the background for further proof of ownership
  
  
• Valuations
  
  
• Document serial numbers, model numbers on big ticket items for insurance purposes
  
  
• Make note of "risk reduction - elimination" (things you don't replace)
  
  
• Photograph any important paperwork - car titles - house deeds - passports - birth certificates
  
  
• Review your insurance policies to ensure that you have the proper coverage - NOTE: most homeowner's policies do not include coverage for flood damage.
  
  
  • Copy of social security card, drivers license, passport
  • Copies of the last 3 years of your tax returns
  • SAVE the photos and list on your computer
  • SAVE the photos & lists on a flash drive and keep in a safe deposit box
• Keep all of your important papers in one location so you can grab and go.

Outside:

• Take pictures of the outside of your home / other existing structures
  
  
• Take pictures of your cars and any outdoor equipment (lawn mowers, patio furniture, gas grill, bicycles, etc.)