Know Flood Terms and What They Mean

When a Flood WATCH is Issued …

When a Flood WARNING Is Issued …

• Listen to local radio and TV stations for information and advice. If told to evacuate, do so as soon as possible.

When a Flash Flood WATCH Is Issued…

• Be alert to signs of flash flooding and be ready to evacuate on a moment’s notice.

When a Flash Flood WARNING Is issued …

• Or, if you think it has already started, evacuate immediately. You may have only seconds to escape. Act quickly.
  
• Move to higher ground away from rivers, streams, creeks, and storm drains. Do Not drive around barricades … they are there for your safety.
  
• If your car stalls in rapidly rising waters, abandon it immediately and climb to higher ground.

• Take care of yourself – discuss your problems, rest often and eat well, watch for signs of stress and seek professional help if needed.
    
• Keep the family together – in bad times, togetherness provides mutual support for everyone.
    
• Care for your children – watch them closely. They may display symptoms of stress.
    
• Stay healthy – small children, pregnant women, and people with health problems should avoid flooded areas until clean-up is complete.
    
• Confirm that water is clean and safe – Do not drink it or wash dishes until you’re sure. Make sure you disinfect dishes and everything else that floodwaters touched.
   
• Report health hazards – Tell the health department about animal carcasses, rats, dangerous chemicals and similar hazards on your property.
   
• Make sure your home is safe to go back to – check your home before you go in, if there is standing water next to the outside walls of your home, don’t go in. Turn off the electricity at the main breaker or fuse box and the gas. Check the ceiling for signs of sagging.
   
• Making flood insurance claims – Take photos and videotape the damage to both the inside and outside the building and its contents.

• Give your house plenty of time to dry.
   
• Move the main breaker or fuse box and the utility meters above the flood protection level for your house. If you are going to replace a flooded furnace, water heater, or air conditioner, install the new one on a higher floor. Where the flood protection level is not too high, a furnace, water heater, or other heavy appliance can be raised on a platform inside the house.
   
• Wash and disinfect the studs and sills if the wallboard and insulation had to be removed.
   
• Remember that some floors are made with particle board or plywood, materials that fall apart when wet for long. Floor joists and some wood floors will regain their shape if allowed to dry naturally.
   
• Do not paint until the surface is completely dry. If the surface still contains moisture, the paint will peel.
   
• You may need a contractor to help your rebuild, especially to handle the difficult jobs such as foundation repair and electrical work. Before hiring a contractor, take the following steps:
  
  • Check on the firm’s reputation.
    
  • Ask for proof of insurance.
    
  • Ask for references.
    
  • Ask for a written estimate.
    
  • Ask for a contract.
    
  • Ask for guarantees in writing.
    
  • Get a copy of the final signed contract.
    
  • Don’t sign off before the job is finished.

• Remodel and rebuild using materials and methods that will prevent or minimize damage from future floods.
   
• Some financial assistance programs can help pay for flood proofing.
   
• Make sure that you talk to your town’s or city’s building department before you begin to repair or rebuild.
   
• Five types of floodproofing include:
  
  • Elevation (most houses can be raised so that the lowest floor is above the flood protection level).
    
  • Relocation (moving a building out of the flood-prone area is the surest way to protect it from flood damage).
    
  • Floodwalls (Floodwalls, berms, and levees all work to keep floodwaters from reaching your house).
    
  • Dry Floodproofing (Sealing a building to keep floodwaters out).
    
  • Wet Floodproofing (modifying a building so that floodwaters will cause only minimal damage to the building and contents).

The recent documented cases of the H1N1 virus (a new flu virus of swine origin that was first detected in April, 2009) in several states across the U.S., including Tennessee, may cause many people to wonder what they can do to better protect themselves right now.  Visit the Center for Disease Control for the current conditions in the United States and Tennessee as well as in depth information on the H1N1 virus.

The American Red Cross stresses that the METRO Health Department is the lead organization when responding to any potential H1N1 virus outbreak.  If an outbreak arises, the Red Cross will play a role in assisting the health department.  View H1N1 virus information from the METRO Nashville Health Department.

The American Red Cross is now playing an educational role in preparing the public to stay healthy in these times.  A recent American Red Cross poll finds more people are taking steps to prevent the H1N1 virus.

The American Red Cross and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are offering the following tips to ensure you stay healthy:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective when soap and water aren’t available.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way. Try to avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Influenza (flu) is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing.
• If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Consult your healthcare provider if you develop symptoms of the flu, such as:

• Fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Body aches
• Headache
• Chills
• Extreme tiredness
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea

For more information, see the Red Cross Flu Checklist.

Prepare for Potential Flu Outbreak
Stocking extra food, water and supplies at home will reduce the need to go out should the H1N1 virus become more widespread, thereby limiting potential for exposure to the virus. If a person does get sick and has extra supplies on hand, they will help reduce the spread of the flu by staying home.

• Store a two-week supply of food, water and household necessities (such as laundry detergent, toilet paper, etc.). Select foods that are easy to prepare and store. 
• Store one gallon of water per person per day in clean plastic containers. Avoid using containers that will decompose or break, such as milk cartons or glass bottles.
• Insure that formula for infants and any child’s or older person’s special nutritional needs are a part of your planning. Store an extra supply of food for your pets.
• Make sure you have an adequate supply of essential medications and medical items for all family members.

 More information, including specific flu preparedness tips for kids,  is available on the Red Cross Web site.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at www.redcrosschat.org.