Floods are our nation's most common natural disaster resulting in more deaths than any other types of severe weather. It is important to understand the terms associated with flooding:
Flood watch - flooding is possible.
Flood warning - flooding is occurring or will occur soon. If advised by officials to evacuate do so immediately.
Flash flood warning - unexpected flooding is imminent. Seek higher ground immediately. Flash floods are the #1 weather-related killer in the United States Two key elements contribute to flash floods:(1) rainfall intensity (2) length of time that it has been raining. Most flash flooding occurs when thunderstorms stay in a region for a period of time or when there are heavy rains resulting from hurricanes or tropical storms.
General Resources
NOAA flood watch website - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Floods…the Awesome Power - NOAA and the American Red Cross informational brochure.
A resource on flood preparedness, safety and recovery - NY State Emergency Management Office (SEMO).
Six approaches for preventing flood damage in your home - Louisiana State University (LSU AG Center).
Flood Safety and Recovery Resources
Turn Around Don't Drown - alert for vehicle operators to become more aware of the dangers of driving through flooded roads. It only takes two feet of water to float most vehicles and cause drivers to lose control.
Emergency Food Worker's Guide to Food Safety - Dept. of Food Science, Cornell University. Resource to assist communities to plan and equip foodservice facilities so that workers can properly prepare and serve safe food in an emergency situation.
Preparing meals safely - Mississippi State Extension.
Preventing carbon monoxide poisoning - is a critical issue related to safely using emergency generators. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
During flood recovery stages, dealing with mold damage is a major issue:
EDEN (Extension Disaster Education Network) has a comprehensive site addressing mold issues.
Hiring a mold remediation contractor by Dr. Joseph Laquatra at Cornell and Dr. Claudette Reichel at LSU.
Rehabbing Flooded Homes - US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Guide for builders and contractors involved in the rehabilitation of single family homes flooded from natural disasters.
Children’s health and floods - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Water Quality Resources
Private wells - What to do if your well is involved in a flood.
Septic systems - How to deal with a flooded septic system.
Dealing with a boil water order -Information on boiling water to make it safe to use. Guidelines on disinfecting water are also provided.
Protecting the health and safety of workers and volunteers involved in flood recovery efforts guidelines are provided by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Agriculture-related Recovery Resources
Dealing with Flooded Vegetable Fields (Cornell University)
Feeding Cattle Following a Disaster (LSU)
Flooded Farm Vehicles and Equipment (University of Florida)
Hot Hay Alert (Cornell University)
Maintaining Livestock Health (North Dakota State University)
Pesticide Storage Concerns (University of Florida)
Salvaging Crops After Flooding (North Dakota State University)
Tips for Handling Flooded Soils (North Dakota State University)
Commercial Nursery Considerations (University of Florida)