California Winter Flood Safety And Preparedness Tips
Release Date: December 28, 2004
Release Number: HQ-04-256
Washington, D.C. -- Californians this week are once again dealing with the effects of a fierce rainy season. No California county is immune from the risk of flooding. In the past 10 years alone, there have been three large-scale, widespread, Federally declared flood disasters in California. During that time, California residents filed more than 20,000 flood insurance claims and received more than 244 million dollars in flood insurance payments.
“As we have seen this week, California’s winter rains can be sudden and surprisingly intense,” said Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response Michael D. Brown. “Residents should know how to prepare for these storms, and should be aware that their homeowners’ insurance does not cover flood and mudflow damage.”
California’s winter rainy season lasts through March. FEMA offers the following tips to prepare for winter flooding:
Before the Storm
- Have a safety kit with drinking water, a first aid kit, canned food, radio, flashlight, and blankets ready to go.
- Know safe routes from home, work, and school on high ground.
- Protect your property. Make sure that your flood insurance policy is up to date.
During the Storm
- Avoid areas subject to sudden flooding.
- Do not try to walk across running water more than six inches deep.
- Do not drive into flooded areas. If your car stalls, abandon it immediately—if you can—and seek higher ground.
After the Storm
- Do not turn electricity back on in your home if you smell gas or if the electrical system has been flooded.
- Clean and disinfect everything that was touched by floodwaters or mudflows and throw out any such foodstuffs.
- Follow directions from local officials regarding the safety of drinking water.
To learn more about your flooding risk and how to protect yourself, visit the NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program) Web site, www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-800-427-2419.
Under the National Flood Insurance Program, federally backed flood insurance is available to homeowners, renters and business owners in communities that adopt and enforce floodplain management ordinances to reduce future flood losses by regulating new construction in high flood-risk areas. Currently, more than 4.4 million flood insurance policies are in approximately 20,000 participating communities nationwide, representing nearly $637 billion worth of coverage. The National Flood Insurance Program is self-supporting; claims and operating expenses are paid from policyholder premiums, not taxpayer dollars.
On March 1, 2003, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 28-Dec-2004 16:11:56