| Many things can be done before the snow melts | | | | breaker panel. Put freezers, washer, dryers |
| or before a heavy rainstorm to reduce damage | | | | and other appliances up on wood or cement |
| to home and property. This checklist can help | | | | blocks to keep the motors above the water |
| you prepare to reduce the severity of water | | | | level. If high water is imminent and large |
| or a flood on your home and family. | | | | appliances can't be moved, wrap them in |
| | | | polyethylene film, tying the film in place |
| Home Check your sump pump. | | | | with cord or rope. The water will still get |
| | | | in, but most of the silt won't so cleanup |
| Clean the sump pump and pit, and test the | | | | will be easier. |
| pump by pouring water into the pit. | | | | |
| | | | Shut off electricity to areas of the home |
| Consider having a spare submersible portable | | | | that might flood. |
| sump pump. Make sure the discharge hose | | | | |
| delivers the water several feet away from the | | | | Even if floodwaters are not reaching |
| house to a well-drained area that slopes away | | | | electrical outlets, the risk of electrical |
| from the house. If the hose outlet is too | | | | shock to someone working in a flooded |
| close to the house foundation or on flat | | | | basement is high with electric motors in the |
| ground, the water may simply recycle down | | | | furnace, freezer, washer, dryer and other |
| through the house drain tile. Don't run sump | | | | appliances. Shut off electrical breakers or |
| pump water into a rural septic system because | | | | unscrew fuses. |
| the water may saturate the drain field. In | | | | |
| cities, running sump pump water into the | | | | Don't stand in water and turn off electrical |
| sanitary system may overload the system and | | | | switches. If this must be done, use a dry |
| cause sewage backup, plus it may be illegal. | | | | piece of wood or a plastic or rubber pole to |
| | | | do the switching, and stand on a block of |
| Move valuables to higher locations. | | | | wood or a plastic crate that doesn't conduct |
| | | | electricity. If floodwaters are getting close |
| Get items such as irreplaceable family photo | | | | to the electrical entrance box, call the |
| albums, high school yearbooks, personal | | | | power supplier and have the electrical supply |
| videotapes, tax records, insurance policies | | | | to the house disconnected. If the floor is |
| and household inventories off the bottom | | | | damp but not really flooded, ground fault |
| shelves in the lower level of your home. | | | | circuit interrupters reduce the risk of using |
| | | | electricity. In newer homes, interrupters can |
| Plug basement floor drains with removable | | | | be identified by the buttons between the top |
| grids. | | | | and bottom outlets. They can be added to any |
| | | | outlet or in an extension cord to turn off |
| A flexible rubber ball about 11 times the | | | | the power if there's danger of water. |
| inside diameter of the pipe can be wedged | | | | |
| into the drain to create a tight seal. The | | | | Move hazardous materials to higher locations. |
| pressure might be quite high so brace the | | | | |
| ball securely with a 2X4 against the ceiling. | | | | This includes paint, oil, cleaning supplies |
| Hold a board or piece of plywood on the | | | | and other dangerous materials. |
| ceiling and slide the 2X4 against the bottom | | | | |
| of the board to avoid damage to plaster | | | | Plan an escape route if certain roads or |
| ceilings. For a suspended tile ceiling, | | | | streets are known to flood easily. Where |
| remove ceiling tiles to get access to the | | | | would you go if your home flooded a local |
| ceiling joists. Span a 2X4 across the two | | | | shelter, a family member or friend's house? |
| joists and wedge the vertical 2X4 between it | | | | Plan for pets. |
| and the ball. Some hardware stores sell a | | | | |
| plug that has a rubber center that expands to | | | | Pets aren't allowed in shelters due to health |
| fill the pipe when the top and bottom metal | | | | regulations. If left behind, stressed pets |
| plates are squeezed. | | | | can damage your house, and their safety is at |
| | | | stake too. |
| Cover basement floor drains with permanent | | | | |
| grids. | | | | Assemble supplies in case the electricity |
| | | | goes off. |
| Place a partially inflated inner tube around | | | | |
| the drain, and top it with a square or two of | | | | Gather water, food that requires no |
| plywood (not particle board). The plywood | | | | refrigeration or cooking, a non-electric can |
| must be larger across than the inner tube to | | | | opener, a battery-powered radio and |
| cover it. Brace this in place just as with | | | | flashlight, extra batteries. |
| the ball on the drain. Be prepared for some | | | | |
| seepage. | | | | Assemble supplies for a possible evacuation. |
| | | | |
| Reduce flooding from other drains. | | | | Gather water, nonperishable food, paper |
| | | | plates/cups and plastic utensils, extra |
| Unbolt toilets from the floor and plug the | | | | clothing and shoes, blankets or sleeping |
| outlet pipe using the same procedure as for | | | | bags, a first aid kit and prescription |
| floor drains. Shower drains can be plugged | | | | medications, cash and credit cards, important |
| this way too. Most washing machines and | | | | phone numbers, special items for babies and |
| basement sinks have their drain connections | | | | the elderly. |
| about 3 feet above the floor so may not | | | | |
| overflow if the water doesn't get that high. | | | | Family Discuss what to do in case of a flood. |
| If necessary, these drains can be | | | | |
| disconnected and capped or plugged with | | | | Plan and practice an evacuation route. |
| braced rubber balls. | | | | |
| | | | Ask an out-of-state family member or friend |
| Move snow away from the house's foundation. | | | | to be your family contact. |
| | | | |
| If the ground is sloped 1 inch per foot near | | | | If family members get separated during an |
| the house, moving snow just 3 to 5 feet from | | | | evacuation, each should get in touch with |
| the house will reduce problems. | | | | that contact. Make sure everyone has the |
| | | | contact's phone numbers. |
| Keep water out of window wells. | | | | |
| | | | Discuss safe emergency procedures. |
| Since windows can't withstand much pressure, | | | | |
| build dams and contour the ground so water | | | | Teach adults and older children where |
| will naturally drain away from the house. | | | | electric fuse boxes, water service mains and |
| | | | natural gas mains are and how to turn them |
| Get downspouts down in place so that as snow | | | | off if necessary. |
| melts they can carry the water away from the | | | | |
| house. Using salt or a chemical to melt them | | | | Discuss the situation with children honestly |
| free will probably damage the lawn. | | | | and openly. |
| | | | |
| Prepare appliances for flooding. | | | | Hiding the situation from them will probably |
| | | | be even more stressful. |
| Shut off appliances at the fuse box or | | | | |