Mar
17Today marks the beginning of Flood Safety Awareness Week (March 14-18) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are strongly encouraging U.S. residents to prepare for springtime flooding dangers. In the wake of the devastating Japan earthquake and subsequent tsunamis that destroyed much of Japan, it becomes even more important that preparations, including acquiring flood insurance, are strongly considered.
Floods Are the Nations Most Common and Expensive Natural Disaster
FEMA and NOAA are working hard this week to get the word out that preparing for floods is crucial in increasing safety during this time of the year. As the nations most common and expensive natural disaster, floods can strike virtually every community, said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate in a press release.
Floods can cause a great deal of property damage and, of course, personal safety is also a major threat under this circumstance. While its often impossible to avoid the threat of floods, it is possible to avoid some of the damage that occurs as a result of this natural disaster when certain precautions are taken.
FEMA and NOAA Provide Tips for Flood Awareness
With spring getting its official start next week, FEMA and NOAA are providing tips to keep citizens aware. Here are some considerations to make if you find that you could be threatened by flood waters:
- Pay attention to flood alerts: By checking your local news or visiting www.weather.gov, you can receive the latest flood alerts for your area.
- Avoid roads covered by water: If you run into a road that is covered with water, the two agencies encourage drivers to Turn Around, Dont Drown.
- Put together an emergency preparedness kit: The agencies ask the all U.S. residents put together an emergency preparedness kit that includes first aid materials and important documents.
- Purchase flood insurance: Since most homeowners insurance policies dont cover floods, FEMA and NOAA encourage residents to purchase flood insurance. They say its best to purchase coverage sooner than later since most policies take 30 days to go into effect.
Its important to note the flood insurance coverage is not just available to homeowners. Renters and business owners in nearly 21,000 communities around the nation can also purchase coverage whether in high, moderate or low-risk flood zones.
To learn more about Flood Safety Awareness Week and acquire more resources and tips from FEMA and NOAA, visit www.ready.gov/floodawareness.
