How to prepare for a flood

Before a flood

• Know if you live in a flood-risk area.
• Prepare emergency kits for your home and car.
• Have an emergency plan that every household member knows.
• Keep important documents in watertight containers.
• Ensure your car has a full tank of gas.
• Have a plan in place in case you need to move pets and livestock.
• Watch for warning signs: increase in height and intensity of water flows, mudslides, debris in creeks, colour changes in water or leaning trees.

Flood-proof your home

• Build sandbag dikesdig a trench one sack deep and two sacks wide, laying sacs in alternating crisscross directions.
• Move appliances above anticipated flood level.
• Secure and anchor propane tanks.
• Stabilize your oil tank and weigh it down with sandbags.
• Turn off utilities at main switches or valves and unplug electrical items.
• Shut off the gas valve at the meter.
• Move pesticides, weed killers, fertilizers and anything else that may contaminate water to a higher level.
• Plug all basement sewer connections; plug toilet, sink and shower drains.

When leaving your home

• Make sure everyone has warm clothing and waterproof outerwear, including footwear.
• Make sure everyone has ID, and store personal documents in plastic.
• Take asupply of any medications needed.
• Bring items needed to care for infantsdiapers, bottles food.
• Take a battery-powered radio and flashlight.
• Check road conditions before leaving andtake extra care when driving.
• Do not walk through moving water even moving waterless than 15 centimetres deep can make you fall.
• Secure your home, ensuring all doors and windows are locked.

Source: Emergency Management B.C.