Flood Checklist

Escape Route

• Contact your local police or fire department to find out where the nearest emergency shelter is located. In the event of an emergency, these locations provide shelter, food and other necessities for those affected by the flood. If your home and family are in danger from the flood waters, you must know where to go.

  Plan an escape route to the emergency location. Make sure everyone in the family knows where the emergency shelter is and how to get there, and work on an escape route from your home. If you get separated from the other members of your family, determine where to meet up with them (in the front yard or by the telephone pole across the street, for example). If you can't find your family, decide beforehand whether to go one of the neighbors or directly to the shelter.

  Store emergency escape supplies within the house. If you have a second floor, keep a roll-up or foldable escape ladder in one of the upstairs closets in case the flood waters destroy the bottom story of your home.

  Review the escape plan and emergency location with your family repeatedly until everyone can evacuate safely.

Supplies

• Even if you do not need to evacuate your home in case of flood, chances are that other areas are affected by the disaster, which may include the electricity grid, supermarkets and other vital suppliers. Prepare to handle such emergency situations.

  Keep a cache of emergency supplies somewhere safe in the house that every member of the household can locate and reach. This kit should include first aid supplies, at least one flashlight and battery-powered television or radio with batteries and at least three days' supply of food and water for each member of the house. Each member should have at least one gallon of water per day; pack nonperishable food that requires no refrigeration or cooking to consume.

  Make sure your kit also includes special medications or supplies for members of the family that may need special treatment, such as inhalers or injections.

Money

• If you lose your supplies or belongings and can safely get to a nearby supplier, you will need money to purchase necessities. Consider creating a separate checking or savings account just for emergency purposes. Keep the credit or debit card for this account in your emergency supply kit so that you will have it in case of emergency.

  Also keep hard currency in the supply kit; if the electricity grids or phone lines are down, the stores can't process credit and debit cards.