Spring Rainy Season 2009 
 
Key messages: 
 

 Flooding can and will happen, again and again.  



 

 Levees provide some, but only some protection against flood. Levees can and do fail, often with catastrophic results. 



 

 Everyone should have a family emergency plan, a disaster supply kit, and should pay close attention to local and state emergency managers – especially during periods of heavy rain or rapid snow melt.  



 

 Flooding can be caused by a number of factors, including heavy rainfall events many miles away. Swollen rivers and streams can be deadly, even if rain events occur far from where you are.  



 

 NEVER drive across flooded roadways. Just a few inches of water can carry away your car.  



 

 Flood insurance is the best way to protect yourself and your families from the financial impacts of flood. Remember that most homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover flood damage and it takes 30 days for a flood insurance policy to become effective. So the time to look into flood insurance is now.  



 

 Just because you don’t live in a high-risk flood area doesn’t mean you don’t need to be aware of floods and consider insuring your home and property against floods. The poorly named 100-year-flood (correctly the 1-percent annual chance flood) can occur multiple times over a short number of years. And many floods far surpass those minimum levels and inundate areas which are not accustomed to seeing floodwaters.  



 
 
 
 
 
 





After A Flood: 
 
If your home has suffered flood damage, here are some steps to help you stay safe. For more information, visit FloodSmart.gov. To protect your property with a flood insurance policy, call your insurance agent or call 1-800427-2419 to find an agent near you.   
Beware of Hazards 
 
•
 Check for damage. Check for structural damage before re-entering your home. Contact the appropriate professionals immediately if you suspect damage to water, gas, electric and sewer lines.  



 
•
 Throw away food that has come in contact with floodwaters. Boil water until authorities declare the water supply safe to drink.  



 
File Your Flood Insurance Claim  
 
•
 Call the insurance agent who handles your flood insurance to file a claim. Have the following information with you when you place your call: (1) the name of your insurance company (your agent may write policies for more than one company); (2) your policy number; and (3) a telephone number/e-mail address where you can be reached.  



 
•
 Take photos of any water in the house and damaged personal property. If necessary, place these items outside the home. Your adjuster will need evidence of the damage and damaged items (e.g., cut swatches from carpeting) to prepare your repair estimate.  



 
•
 Make a list of damaged or lost items and include their age and value where possible. If possible, supply receipts for those lost items to the adjuster. Officials may require disposal of damaged items. If so, keep a swatch or other sample of the items for the adjuster.  



 
Clean Up 
 
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 Prevent mold and remove wet contents immediately. Wet carpeting, furniture, bedding and any other items holding moisture or water inside the building can develop mold within 24 to 48 hours. If an item has been wet for less than 48 hours, help control mold growth by cleaning with a phenolic or pine-oil cleaner (nonammonia detergent, soap or commercial cleaner) and disinfecting with a 10 percent bleach solution (1-1/2 cups of bleach                                              in a gallon of water). Items should then be completely dried and monitored for several days for any fungal growth and odors. If any mold develops, throw the item away.  



 

•
 If the walls are damaged, take photographs of the baseboard. Then remove the baseboard. Knock small holes at floor level in the drywall, between the wall studs. This will permit moisture trapped behind the drywall to seep out and start drying.  



 
•
 Contact your local building inspections or planning office or county clerk’s office to get more information on local building requirements before repairing your structure. If you can’t find a local contact, call your state NFIP coordinator. Contact information can be found at www.floods.org/statepocs/stcoor.asp.   



 
 
For More Information 
 
Please contact the FEMA News Desk at 202-646-3272. 
 
For general flood insurance questions, call 1-800-427-4661 or contact your insurance company or insurance agent. 
FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. 
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