Floods and severe storms

1. What this emergency can disrupt

Flooding can cut roads, contaminate water, and energize electrical hazards. Thunderstorms can also bring wind, lightning, hail, and tornadoes.

2. Before it happens

• Identify flood-prone routes and a safe higher destination. Keep important documents above likely flood levels.
• Enable weather alerts and know a sturdy interior shelter location for severe winds.

3. During the emergency

• Never drive or walk into floodwater. Turn around and use an officially open route.
• For a tornado warning, use a basement or small interior room on the lowest safe level; avoid windows. Do not shelter in a basement that is flooding.

4. Evacuation & shelter

Leave a flood-risk location before routes close when officials direct. A vehicle is not a safe flood shelter.

5. Communication & family coordination

Choose an out-of-area contact and two meeting locations. Keep numbers on paper. Agree who assists children, pets, and people who need help; send a short status and destination when safe.

6. Supplies & their limits

• Waterproof document storage protects papers, not people.
• Stored water is useful when a water advisory is issued; a camping filter cannot reliably remove chemical flood contaminants.

7. Common mistakes

• Assuming familiar roads are safe underwater.
• Entering flooded buildings before utilities are assessed.

8. Recovery

Wait for clearance, avoid standing water around electrical equipment, and photograph damage before cleanup.

9. Printable checklist