The lovely weather reminds me that I wanted to share some flood preparedness information with you. I gave a couple of presentations on the subject on Thursday at NDSU, but became distracted and forgot about sharing some of the info here as well (imagine that – me distracted).

It doesn’t look like we will have too much longer a grace period in the Fargo-Moorhead area as it relates to the full thaw so please take the time now to prepare yourself and your family.  I am just giving you some broad areas to think about herein, but I hope that they will cause you to think about how you may be affected and prompt you to have a discussion with your family members.  Prepared folks tend not to be victims.  Everything I suggest below can be accomplished within a day – if you aren’t prepared yet, please do so soon.

Property

• Know the vulnerabilities of your property and neighborhood (has water been an issue in the past, have roads been blocked, etc.);
• Check your sump pump to make sure it is operating as it should be;
• Move anything that you cannot bear to lose up out of the lower floors of your home;
• Use plastic bins to store items that you want to be able to protect and move either up or out of the house easily;
• Ask yourself- can the items in your house be left alone and unattended for a week or more if you are evacuated (fish, plants, etc.); and,
• If you know you will be fighting water prepare yourself – physically, mentally and emotionally for what may be a long and very tiring couple of weeks.

Supplies

You should maintain extra supplies of anything you cannot or do not want to live without for a week or more (stores may be closed or shipments in may be limited or interrupted).  In particular, think about:

• Food, water and personal care items;
• Pet supplies;
• Medicine, vitamins, etc. (don’t forget over the counter medications as well);
• Other items – contact lenses, batteries, makeup (perhaps this is only essential to me?), flood-fighting supplies, etc.; and,
• Gas (during flood season you should maintain a half-tank of gas at all times in your vehicle in case of evacuation, station closures, or shortages due to difficulty getting supplies into the area).

Family

It is important that you talk to family members about your plan.  In particular:

• Decide who will pick up the kids from school if there is a mid-day cancellation or they have been evacuated and relocated to a different site;
• Designate where will you meet up with family in the event of an evacuation (talk about it in advance – don’t rely on cell phones working during the heat of the event);
• Think about potential family members outside the area that you could possibly stay with if you are displaced; and,
• Keep everyone current on information –  5-10 minute daily family briefings on who will be where and the current status of potential evacuations, etc.

Pets

• Don’t kennel pets while at work in a lower level that may take on water unexpectedly;

• Be prepared to transport pets in a hurry – have adequate carriers, examine whether you have adequate room in your vehicle to transport your human and pet family in one trip;
• Attach large plastic bag to carrier and include copies of vet records, photo, medication, and other pertinent pet information;
• Have a pet “go kit” with food, leash, favorite toy, etc.;
• Label all items with pet’s name, your name, home address and your cell phone number (including your pet’s collar);
• Exotics are harder to find shelters for, think in advance about where you can shelter exotics; and,
• Don’t forget your pet’s mental health – if you take a pet to a separate shelter try and visit daily.

Records, etc.

• Gather important records in one central location (in a clearly marked plastic bin at a higher level);
• If you know your neighborhood may be evacuated while you are away keep the bin in your vehicle;
• Create a short list of important numbers and information to carry with you – insurance agent phone number, policy numbers, etc.; and,
• Place items such as photos and mementos you cannot easily replace in bins as well and move them to the highest level of the house.

Communication

Incoming:

• Sign up for CodeRED (a reverse 911 system that allows county officials to notify you immediately of dangerous situations or specific protective actions being implemented – sign up home and cell numbers of the entire family- local website addresses are at the end of this blog);
• Invest in an ALERT weather radio ($30) – this is particularly valuable in warning you about quick onset events (and it only alerts re: the county or counties you program it to);
• Monitor flood information – online, radio, television; and,
• Call FirstLink – 476-4000 – primarily as it relates to volunteer efforts.

Outgoing:

• Have a plan for communicating with your family – have both an out-of-state contact and tell family members to use Red Cross “Safe and Well” registry if they are separated;
• Carry a printed list of important family contact numbers with you in your wallet (cell phones get damaged, lost or  batteries may die – if you can’t readily recall an important number from your brain then write it down);
• Invest in an auto-charger for your cell phone (in case, electricity is out you can charge the phone in the auto-another reason maintaining a half-tank of gas is good);
• When all other communication efforts fail – try texting – it is more likely to get through swamped circuits;
• Program “in case of emergency” (ICE) contacts on your phone and family members’ phones as first responders are trained to look for these; and,
• Utilize email and instant messaging if it is available.

Commitments
Think about commitments that you may not be able to meet due to flood issues:

• Care or volunteer activities;
• Bill due dates;
• Important family events or rituals;
• Appointments, procedures, etc.; and,
• Taxes.

Evacuation

• Be aware of your travel options – be familiar with a variety of routes out of the area and the blockages that are in place due to flood waters;
• Be prepared to evacuate in 15 minutes or less (have items in central location that you want to take);
• Remember…a half-tank of gas;
• Keep emergency cash on hand – in case you cannot get cash or there is an issue with credit or debit card usage (if electricity is out cards cannot be run); and,
• Remember evacuation can occur in the middle of the night (so for your sake and your neighbors’ psyche – think about what you wear to bed over the next few weeks or so). 😉

9.  Travel safety

• Check http://www.nd.gov or call 511 for current road information before traveling;
• Stay off flooded roadways and comply with closure signs to avoid getting stuck or drowning; and,
• When your vehicle is in the water remember to take these for steps to survive (research has shown this is the most effective approach to survival – these steps should be completed – ideally – within a minute (two at the most):
  ~ Seatbelts (take off your seatbelt);
  ~ Children (take off kids’ seatbelts);
  ~ Window (open windows); and,
  ~ Out (get out of the vehicle)
  

Work

• Talk to your supervisor about any things that may interrupt your ability to work (property protection, road closures, child care, etc.);
• Check on work closure policies and how you will be notified if your workplace is closed;
• If your employer is willing to allow you to work from home  – do a practice run before the flood to work through any bugs;
• Ask your supervisor if you will be potentially designated as essential personnel and find out what that means as far as expectation, pay, etc.; and,
• Ask your employer how will pay be handled if your workplace will be closed for an extended period.

Additional Resources

Cass Fargo Emergency Management – sign up for CodeRED

Clay Emergency Management – sign up for CodeRED

Are You Ready? FEMA’s Citizen Preparedness Guide

Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) – flood page

FEMA – Flood Information

Remember…plan for the worst, hope for the best and be ready for anything.  As a community we will get through this year’s flood – come hell or high water.

Day six hundred and twenty-two of the new forty – obla di obla da

Ms. C