Emergency Documents:

Imagine how hard it would be after a disaster if you couldn’t prove your identity or if you didn’t have access to your bank account. Avoid difficult situations by making copies of your important documents and keeping them in a waterproof bag. Include the following items:

• Current photo IDs, driver licenses, birth records, Social Security cards, passports (always keep your social security number separate from other documents to decrease the risk of identity theft)
• Current photos of family members, in case you get separated
• Health insurance and prescription cards
• Medical records, medications, and dosages
• Phone numbers (family, friends, doctors)
• Bank account information
• Wills
• Insurance documents (homeowner, renter, flood, life)
• Property deeds, leases, mortgages
• Vehicle titles, insurance, leases, loan documents
• Inventory of household possessions and their value (take photos of every room, every drawer, every closet)
• Backup computer files on a USB drive
• Copies of important keys
• Utility bills (to prove where you live)

People with Disabilities and Those with Access and Functional Needs:

Think about your day to day needs for independence. Plan now for your health away from home. Label medical equipment with your contact information.

• Wheelchairs, walkers, and canes
• Cooler with cold packs for medications
• Extra medications and dosages
• Copies of prescriptions and medical alert tags
• Food for special diets
• Medical supplies (oxygen, glucose monitoring strips, syringes, etc.)
• Hearing aids with extra batteries
• Communication devices
• Supplies and documentation for service animals

Pet Supplies:

• 3-day supply of pet food, water, and bowls
• Pet medications and first-aid kit
• Vaccination records
• Crate or carrier (may be required in shelters or where you spend the night)
• Leash and toys
• Cat litter and box
• Photo, in case pet gets lost
• https://www.txready.org/build-a-kit/disaster-supply-checklist.html

 

Flooding

Each year, more deaths occur because of flooding than any other hazard related to thunderstorms. The most common

flood deaths occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous floodwater. Fortunately, you can take steps to protect yourself,

your family, and your home.

Don’t drive in flooded areas — turn around, don’t drown!

Floodwater can pose a drowning risk for everyone— regardless of their ability to swim. Swiftly moving shallow water can be deadly, and even shallow standing water can be dangerous for small children.

• Always follow warnings about flooded roads.
• Don’t drive in flooded areas—cars or other vehicles won’t protect you from floodwaters. They can be swept away or may stall in moving water.

Stay out of floodwater.

Floodwaters contain many things that may harm health. We don’t know exactly what is in floodwater at any given point in time. Floodwater can contain:

• Downed power lines
• Human and livestock waste
• Household, medical, and industrial hazardous waste (chemical, biological, and radiological)
• Coal ash waste that can contain carcinogenic compounds such as arsenic, chromium, and mercury
• Other contaminants that can lead to illness
• Physical objects such as lumber, vehicles, and debris
• Wild or stray animals such as rodents and snakes

During a Flood Watch or Warning

• Gather emergency supplies, including food and water. Store at least 1 gallon of water per day for each person and each pet. Store at least a 3-day supply.
• Listen to your local radio or television station for updates.
• Have immunization records handy (or know the year of your last tetanus shot).
  • Store immunization records in a waterproof container.
• Bring in outdoor possessions (lawn furniture, grills, trash cans) or tie them down securely.
• If evacuation appears necessary, turn off all utilities at the main power switch and close the main gas valve.
• Leave areas subject to flooding such as low spots, canyons, washes, etc. (Remember: avoid driving through flooded areas and standing water.)

After Flooding Occurs

• Avoid driving through flooded areas and standing water. As little as six inches of water can cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
• Do not drink flood water, or use it to wash dishes, brush teeth, or wash/prepare food. Drink clean, safe water.
• If you evacuated, return to your home only after local authorities have said it is safe to do so.
• Listen for boil water advisories. Local authorities will let you know if your water is safe for drinking and bathing.
  • During a water advisory, use only bottled, boiled, or treated water for drinking, cooking, etc.
• When in doubt, throw it out! Throw away any food and bottled water that comes/may have come into contact with floodwater.
• Prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Use generators at least 20 feet from any doors, windows, or vents. If you use a pressure washer, be sure to keep the engine outdoors and 20 feet from windows, doors, or vents as well. Never run your car or truck inside a garage that is attached to a house even with the garage door open.

The initial damage caused by a flood is not the only risk. Standing floodwater can also spread infectious diseases, bring chemical hazards, and cause injuries.

After you return home, if you find that your home was flooded, practice safe cleaning. Remove and throw out drywall and insulation that was contaminated with floodwater or sewage. Throw out items that cannot be washed and cleaned with a bleach solution: mattresses, pillows, carpeting, carpet padding, and stuffed toys. Homeowners may want to temporarily store items outside of the home until insurance claims can be filed. See recommendations by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)external icon.

Clean walls, hard-surfaced floors, and other household surfaces with soap and water and disinfect with a solution of one cup of bleach to five gallons of water.

Avoid electrical hazards inside or outside your home.

After a hurricane, flood or other natural disaster you need to be careful to avoid electrical hazards both in your home and elsewhere.

• Shut off electrical power and natural gas or propane tanks in your home to avoid fire, electrocution, or explosions.
• NEVER touch a fallen power line. Call the power company to report fallen power lines. Avoid contact with overhead power lines during cleanup and other activities.
• Do not drive through standing water if downed power lines are in the water.
• If you believe someone has been electrocuted, call or have someone else call 911 or emergency medical help.

https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/flood.html