• Behavioral Issues
• Child Care
• Cleaning Up After a Storm
• Communication
• Deciding To Stay Or Go
• Evacuation Shelters
• First Aid & Medical
• Flood Center
• Food and Water
• Help the Relief Effort
• Insurance Center
• Lighting & Power
• Pet Care
• Preparing Your Home
• Special Needs
• Storms Explained

Before the Flood

Besides insuring your property, there are other things you can do before a flood to minimize potential loss to your home and ensure your family's safety.

• Take photos or videos of all of your important possessions. If your home is damaged in a flood, these documents will help you file a full flood insurance claim.
• Store important documents and irreplaceable personal objects (such as photographs) where they won't get damaged. If major flooding is expected, consider putting them in a storage facility.
• Post emergency telephone numbers by the phone. Teach children to dial 911.
• Plan and practice a flood evacuation route with your family.
• Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to be the "family contact" in case your family is separated during a flood. Make sure everyone in your family knows the name, address, and phone number of this contact person.
• Buy and install sump pumps with back-up power.
• Have a licensed electrician raise electric components (switches, sockets, circuit breakers and wiring) at least 12" above your home's projected flood elevation.
• For drains, toilets, and other sewer connections, install backflow valves or plugs to prevent floodwaters from entering.
• Anchor fuel tanks. An unanchored tank in your basement can be torn free by flood waters, and the broken supply line can contaminate your basement. An unanchored tank outside can be swept downstream, where it can damage other houses.
• If your washer and dryer are in the basement, elevate them on masonry or pressure-treated lumber at least 12" above the projected flood elevation.
• Place the furnace and water heater on masonry blocks or concrete at least 12" above the projected flood elevation.