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