Extreme Weather Preparation

Here's some extreme weather advice from USA.gov.

Summertime can bring a range of weather challenges and potential dangers. Some of these threats can occur with little warning, so do what you can to prepare by assembling an emergency kit and forming a plan of action. Find out what you should do if faced with the following weather dangers:

Lightning: In the U.S., lightning kills more people each year than tornadoes and hurricanes. If you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance and should seek shelter in an enclosed building or vehicle. While indoors, don't use a corded phone, a computer or other electrical appliances; and avoid contact with plumbing (don't shower, wash hands, do laundry, etc.). Learn more about lightning safety and get tips on what to do if you're outdoors during a thunderstorm.

Floods: If you have time, move essential items to an upper floor. Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water. Do not walk through moving water that is six inches or higher. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground. Learn more about what to do before, during, and after a flood.

Hurricanes: If you can't evacuate, get inside and secure external and internal doors. Stay away from windows and doors and take refuge in a small interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level. Learn more about what to do before, during, and after a hurricane.

Tornadoes: Storm cellars and basements are the safest locations, but if they aren't available, go to an interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level. Stay away from windows, doors, outside walls, and corners. If you are in a trailer or mobile home, go to a sturdy, nearby building. Learn more about what to do before, during, and after a tornado.

Extreme Heat: Stay indoors as much as possible. Consider spending the hottest part of the day in an air-conditioned public building, such as a library or shopping mall. Never leave children or pets alone in vehicles. Learn more about what to do in extreme heat.

Wildfires: If your home is threatened by a wildfire, you must evacuate. If you have time, bring an emergency kit that includes copies of important documents. Learn more about what to do before, during, and after a wildfire.

Earthquakes: If you are indoors, stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls and get under a sturdy table or desk. If you are outside, keep away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires. If you're in a moving vehicle, safely stop the vehicle in an open area and stay inside. Learn more about what to do before, during, and after an earthquake.

NATIONAL FLOOD SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are once again partnering for National Flood Safety Awareness Week, March 12 -16.  This is a time for individuals, families, businesses and communities to understand their risk for flooding and take precautions to protect their families and homes in the event of flooding. 

"Floods can happen at any time, anywhere across the United States, which means we all need to be prepared now," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.  "There are simple steps everyone can take to prepare for flooding, such as developing a family emergency plan, having an emergency supply kit and protecting your home or business from flooding by obtaining a flood insurance policy."

Floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States, however not all floods are alike. Floods typically occur when too much rain falls or snow melts too quickly. While some floods develop slowly, flash floods develop suddenly.  Hurricanes can bring flooding to areas far inland from where they first hit the coast, as we witnessed last year from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. And chunks of ice from a thawing river can block its normal flow and force water out of its banks.  

Yet there are simple steps citizens can take today to reduce their risk to all types of floods.  Flood Safety Awareness Week is an excellent time for individuals and communities to understand their flood risk and implement precautions to mitigate the threat to life and property.

"Flooding is the leading cause of severe weather-related deaths in the U.S., and this is especially tragic since many are preventable.  Of the nearly 100 flood-related fatalities each year, most occur as people attempt to drive on flooded roads.  In many cases, the water is either too deep or moving too fast for drivers to maintain control of their vehicle, and in extreme cases the roadway may be washed away entirely," said Jack Hayes, director, NOAA's National Weather Service, which produces an array of flood outlooks and forecasts, including watches and life-saving warnings. "Remember, if confronted with a water-covered road follow National Weather Service advice: Turn Around, Don't Drown."

If a tree falls on your house, who pays?

“We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.”
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Hurricane Irene caused serious flood damage along some coasts and (to the surprise of some) along rivers far inland. Locally the Hudson River rose over ten feet and flooded our community boat club. Train tracks were covered in water and mud.

Two very common problems with heavy rain and/or flooding is fallen trees and swamped cars. If your neighbor's tree falls on your property - who pays? CBS-Philadelphia looked into the question and learned:

1. If a tree falls on a house, the home owner's insurance of the damaged house should cover it as "an act of God" regardless of where the tree came from.

2. If a tree falls on a car, the car owner's insurance will cover the damage under comprehensive coverage.

3. If a tree falls and nothing is damaged, you're on your own getting it removed.

The situation could change if the tree was old or pre-damaged and the owner allowed it to decay and fall. The owner might be sued for negligence.

If your car was flooded, FoxBusiness has the answers:

1. Liability auto insurance does not cover flooding; you need comprehensive insurance for that.

2. Is the car repairable? "In general, water that goes past the floorboards -- into the areas where electronics begin -- will mean the car is totaled."

OK, my car is flooded. What should I do?

If your car did flood, don't start it until it's been cleaned and inspected. Try to dry it out as quickly as possible. The less time its exposed to water, the better. Record the maximum height the water went to and call your insurance company. Then, get a qualified and certified tech to check out all your wiring and electrical components, as well as all the mechanical ones. Make sure to flush all fluids and replace all filters and gaskets. While a flood-exposed car may drive, the longer internal components sit with water damage, the greater the risk of damage to the engine and other parts. - Consumerist summary of FoxBusiness advice

Bottom Line

Sometimes a flood keeps on giving grief long after the event.

• Mold may pop up days or weeks later as discussed yesterday in your home and car.
• Contaminated flood water can cause illness afterwards.
• Fallen limb damage might not be obvious at first. We discovered damage to our roof over a month after a storm when the next rain leaked into our attic.
• Car damage might not surface earlier than 90 days, when computer and other electrical components begin to corrode.

Post Irene: Act Now to stop Mold!

"Have you been lying awake worrying? Well, don't worry...I'm here. The flood waters will recede, the famine will end, the sun will shine tomorrow, and I will always be here to take care of you."
-Charlie Brown to Snoopy

ConsumerReports.org notes that mold can be a serious problem after flooding. We were lucky at my house with less than an inch of water in our garage and basement but even that small amount can result in lots of mold.

"To prevent mold from growing and spreading after a flood, you have to act fast—within 24 to 48 hours."

• Dry out wet areas ASAP. Open doors and windows and use fans or dehumidifiers speed up drying time.
• Anything porous or absorbent that was wet for a day or two is a problem. If you can thoroughly clean it with detergent and dry it, do so soon. Otherwise the item should be tossed. Even dead mold can cause allergic reactions.
  
  "Porous, noncleanable items include carpeting and carpet padding, upholstery, wallpaper, drywall, ceiling tiles, insulation material, some clothing, leather, paper, some wood and wood products, and food." 
• Temporarily store damaged or discarded items outside the home until insurance claims can be processed. If you leave them in the house these items will spread mold everywhere.

There are mixed opinions on using chlorine. Detergent is safer to use and nicer on the environment but if you experienced flood water from a river, run-off or ocean, then use chlorine. Flood waters may contain human waste and other contaminates - so go with the extra cleaning power of chlorine.

Bottom Line

"If you think a serious mold problem is developing, consult a professional mold remediation service. You should also consult an expert if people who live in your home have health issues or are immune suppressed.

If the floodwaters have affected your heating and air conditioning you'll need help from a qualified professional."

Sinkholes

"Help me, I think I'm falling"-Joni Mitchell lyrics to "Help Me"

Eons ago while in high school, I attended a Saturday science day in Gainsville, Florida. Sometime after lunch, we lost lights and power. We waited about an hour before the organizers cancelled further labs and everyone went home. Later the evening news revealed the cause - a large sinkhole had opened up in town swallowing a house and several cars (and I suppose a power pole or two).

Sinkholes are not uncommon in Florida. As people drink and use the underground water aquifer faster than it refills, the water level falls leaving the ground above unsupported.

Today I saw a story about a family of four killed in Quebec when the ground opened up beneath their house. The paper says a landslide ripped open the hole. Seems odd to me. Perhaps the landslide created a void as the soil poured downhill? And just like my experience, neighbors had no clue: "The landslide took place so quickly and silently on Monday night that many neighbors could not understand why their electricity and water supply had been disrupted."

The cause in Quebec is 10,000 year old clay soil that can liquefy with no warning. In 1991 the entire town of Lemieux, Ontario, near Ottawa, was relocated when officials became concerned about the stability of the clay. Two years later, a landslide consumed 42 acres near Lemieux’s former location.

Bottom Line

When buying a house, do some research to find out if sinkholes happen in your area. Also check for sinkhole flooding. This occurs when a house is built inside an ancient sinkhole and ground water backs up filling the hole - a mini flood just for your house or neighborhood! (pictured above) Check out this article from Kentucky for more details.

Water damage

“Seventy-five percent of our planet is water - can you swim?” - unknown

If your house is damaged by water, how you respond and cleanup is determined by whether the water is clean or contaminated. Clean water accidents include rain through a hole in the roof, a water tank leaking, a burst pipe, a burst swimming pool or water bed, etc. Contaminated water is typically floodwater. You have no idea what the floodwater may have mixed with before entering your house – sewage, dead animals, toxic chemicals, and so forth.

For dirty water damage the CDC recommends:

• Keep children and pets out of the affected area until it is cleaned
• Wear rubber boots, rubber gloves and goggles while cleaning
• Clean all hard surfaces (such as flooring, concrete, molding, wood and metal furniture,
  countertops, appliances, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures) with hot water and laundry or dish detergent. Some sites recommend using bleach.
• Discard anything absorbent that got wet and cannot be disinfected (mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture, cosmetics, stuffed animals, baby toys, pillows, foam rubber items, books, wall coverings, drywall, insulation, and paper products).
• Affected clothing can be saved by washing in hot water and detergent.
• Do not eat, drink or smoke while cleaning. Don’t let the germs into your mouth.
• After cleanup, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and CLEAN water.

For clean water damage, here are some housecleaning tips from “Servpro”, a professional Fire & Water – Cleanup and Restoration company.

• Remove excess water by mopping and blotting
• Wipe water from wood
• Remove cushions and pillows for drying
• Place foil or wood between furniture and wet carpet to prevent water seeping up the furniture legs
• Remove oriental and throw rugs to dry. Don’t try to remove a wall-to-wall carpet.
• Move artwork and painting to a dry location
• Don’t leave wet fabric in place. Dry them as soon as possible.
• Don’t leave books, newspapers, or magazines on wet floors. The ink may run and stain the floor.
• Don’t use a regular vacuum to remove water. You need a special wet-vac.
• Have wet appliances checked for safety. Don’t turn one on while standing on a wet carpet! Shock!
• Don’t work in a room if the ceiling is sagging from water. It may fall at any time.

Bottom Line

Save what you can but be prepared to toss a lot of stuff. In college I had to toss most of my vinyl record collect when my basement apartment was flooded by an inch of water. I might have saved the records if I had acted quickly but by the time I got to them, there was mold all over the jackets and on the albums.

Flash Floods

“The only thing that stops God from sending another flood is that the first one was useless.”- Chamfort (French playwright)

When I picture death by weather, I can imagine tornadoes and lightning but the number-one weather killer is not so obvious: drowning in flash floods. The national 30-year average (1977-2006) for flood deaths is 99. That compares with a 30-year average of 61 deaths for lightning, 54 for tornadoes and 49 for hurricanes

A flash flood can occur quickly –within minutes of heavy rain, a dam/levee break, or ice jam break. A flash flood is also fast moving – you cannot out run it. Your best bet is to move upwards to high ground above the flood level. If the police or radio issues a flood warning – move immediately.

When driving remember the slogan, “Turn Around, Don’t Drown” when you see water covering the road. Half of all drowning occur inside a car. Don’t park your car next to a river if you can avoid it. I had a friend attend a wedding and, upon leaving the church, discover that a nearby river had crested and the car of every guest was flooded.

When camping, pitch your tent away from rivers and streams on higher ground. You never know what will happen while you’re sleeping. Once, when the sky was crystal clear, I decided there was no reason to put the rain cover over my tent. I awoke with rain falling upon me. Another time my wife & I were surprised to find that rain or dew had frozen to the outside of our tent overnight. We had no idea it was that cold or wet.

Bottom Line

Water is a powerful force – eroding mountains along river valleys like the Grand Canyon; but it can also move in mysterious ways. I was once surprised while attending a party at a boat club on the Hudson River. The river reached an unusual high tide and I found the clubhouse completely surrounded by water when it was time to leave. We were able to keep our shoes dry by climbing over some planks.

www.floodsafety.com/
www.nws.noaa.gov/om/brochures/ffbro.htm

P.S. A camping joke…

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson go on a camping trip, set up their tent, and fall asleep. Some hours later, Holmes wakes his faithful friend.

'Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see.'

Watson replies, 'I see millions of stars.'

'What does that tell you?'

Watson ponders for a minute. 'Astronomically speaking, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo. Timewise, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three. Theologically, it's evident the Lord is all powerful and we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, it seems we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you?'

Holmes is silent for a moment, then speaks.
'Watson, you idiot, someone has stolen our tent.'

Don't drive through flood waters

“We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Almost half of all flash flood deaths happen inside vehicles because drivers think they can drive through “shallow” water. Just six inches of moving water is deep enough to knock people off their feet and for small cars to loose control. One foot of water can carry away the average car. Two feet of water will float most vehicles including SUVs and pickup trucks.

The video here shows how quickly moving water can destroy a road. Fast forward through the first minute. By minute two the road is collapsing. If the water level were higher and covered the road after the collapse, you’d have no idea that a piece of the road was gone if you tried to drive thorough it.

Flooded River Destroys Road In Minutes

Bottom Line

For more information on driving through flood waters, check out
www.cararticles.co.uk/uk-water-flood-driving-advice.html

If your car stalls or begins to drift while driving through water, do not stay in the car. Get out immediately. If your car becomes submerged you may have to wait for the car to fill with water before you’re able to open the car door. (Water is heavier than air and pushes against the car doors.) Don’t panic, hold your breath, and swim out.

If you are swept into moving floodwater, float on your back and try to point your feet downstream and protect your head from collisions.

Resources for Flood Preparation

“There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. We must take the current when it serves, or lose our
ventures.” - William Shakespeare

I try not to copy and paste entire blog postings. I don't believe that is fair. Usually I'll summarize and highlight key points and give links to the source.

But in the case of ***Island News***Public Works: Flood-related Resources Are Available there is no way to summarize. The posting is filled with links to online resources from FEMA and Red Cross regarding flooding. How to prepare before hand and how to clean up afterward. Check it out!

Bottom Line

Be it rain, hurricanes or high rivers, very few homes are safe from flooding. We live near the top of a hill and the house at the very top flooded during the heavy rains of Hurricane Floyd. We prepared and did OK (just some leakage under our basement door.) We have layered the ground to encourage water flow around our house and down the hill.

Flash Foods

"Thunder is good, thunder is impressive; but it is lightning that does all the work"
- Mark Twain

According to ScienceDaily.com, "Flash floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States, and because of their unpredictability they’re the leading weather-related cause of death for Americans ... Unlike normal floods which arrive slowly and with more warning, flash floods are particularly dangerous because they happen so quickly, developing from thunderstorms that form in a matter of hours."

The ScienceDaily article goes on to show how researchers in Tel Aviv are using lightning strikes as a predictor of flash floods for "nowcasting".

FEMA describes flash floods this way, "flash floods can develop quickly, sometimes in just a few minutes and without any visible signs of rain. Flash floods often have a dangerous wall of roaring water that carries rocks, mud, and other debris and can sweep away most things in its path."

Bottom Line

Every state is at risk from this hazard. During a flash flood small streams, gullies, creeks, culverts, dry stream beds, or low-lying ground can become death traps. If you are outdoors when rain begins or you hear thunder, climb to high ground. Don't try to outrun a flood by running along the river bed! Don't walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can make you fall. Escape to higher ground perpendicular to the stream bed.

http://weathereye.kgan.com/cadet/flood/

Financial survival after a disaster

"Homeowners and business owners absolutely must plan ahead for the risk to their financial survival after the Big One hits. We have learned from numerous experiences throughout the country that in the event of major disasters, you are much more likely to lose all of your assets and/or go bankrupt because of the incident than be injured or perish during it." - How to survive 'the Big One' financially

In the blog quoted above, Joe Garcia, president of Garcia Insurance Inc., points out that only 12% of California homeowners have earthquake coverage for their home. He states,

"You may think you are covered under your general homeowners or business policy, but in California, earthquake coverage must be a separate policy with a separate premium." ...

"Don't expect the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] to write you a big check after “the Big One.”

Bottom Line
Just like earthquake coverage in CA, nationally few people have flood insurance and no one is covered unless they buy it separately. You may think you could NEVER be flooded but just how far away is the nearest river and how many feet are you above it? Is there a dam that could burst? Could heavy rains and leaf clogged sewers turn your neighborhood into a lake?

Talk to your neighbors and your insurance agent to find out if you are at risk for earthquakes, flooding, or other natural disasters not covered by your homeowner's policy.

Flood water contamination

Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. - Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)

Contrary to Mark Twain's clever quote, water, even a little, can be quite dangerous. Flood water, be it from storm surges or overflowing rivers, is always assumed to be contaminated. There may be raw sewage, toxic soil, dead animals, and other undesirable extras that were picked up by the flood.

When cleaning up after a flood it's important to keep in mind that even after the water has gone and items have dried out, the germs and toxins carried by the flood water still remain. Food items that came in contact with water should be disposed of. The exception is commercially sealed cans which are undented, free of rust, etc.

To disinfect undamaged cans, remove paper labels (paper can harbor bacteria) and
re-label with a permanent marker. Wash the containers in warm, soapy water and use a brush to scrub surfaces. Rinse well in clean water. Immerse the clean, rinsed containers in a household bleach solution (two tablespoons bleach per one gallon of water) for 15 minutes. Air-dry cans before opening or storing. Use foods from disinfected containers as soon as possible because cans may rust. Commercially canned foods can also be boiled for 10 minutes as a disinfection treatment, but avoid this treatment for carbonated beverage cans. - University of Maine Cooperative Extension

Bottom Line
Treat flood water as filth and assume everything it touches is contaminated. You have just two choices for items that were soaked by flood water: disinfect or dispose.

Overconfidence

"When it comes to old-fashioned risks like weather, we often overestimate ourselves" - The Unthinkable by Amanda Ripley

In a new book called The Unthinkable, the author looks at human response to disasters and emergencies. She points out that people often make the same mistake that FEMA did, we focus on preparing for the "big" but rare events like terrorism or nuclear attack and overlook the common but deadly surprises that mother nature is prepared to send our way.

Consider lightning. The National Weather Service estimates that 100,000 thunderstorms occur in the United States each year. One hundred bolts hit the earth every second and in many years these bolts kill more people world wide than any other kind of weather including hurricanes and tornadoes. In the U.S. 1318 deaths were attributed to lightning from 1980 through 1995, an average of 82 per year. Lightning can occur anywhere and sometimes with little warning; lightning has struck 10 miles away from the rain of a thunderstorm.

Consider hurricanes. Unlike lightning, no one living near a coast should be surprised or unprepared when a hurricane hits your neighborhood. However did you know that the common cause of hurricane death is drowning; some trapped in the attic of their house but many drowned in their own cars trapped by flood waters. As a child growing up in San Antonio, Texas, I recall each rain season, seeing TV news of flood water pouring across roads like a mini river. And every year one or more cars would try to cross this shallow river and be carried off by the flood.

A few weeks ago in Ossining, NY, a torrential rain came down while my wife and I were shopping. We watched as a river of rain water began pouring down the street. The rain was too much for the storm drains and water gushed out instead of going in. Manhole covers in busy intersections were popped off by geysers. To our surprise cars tried to speed through as if everything was normal. They had no clue of the hidden gaping manholes waiting to grab a tire. We saw one manhole cover hit by a car and the cover went flying - luckily no one was hit by it.

Bottom Line
Take storms seriously - both the lightning and heavy rain. Do not drive through any water that you can not see the ground through. There could be hidden potholes or erosion that will swallow your car. Water that reaches the bottom of your car door could flood your engine or make the car buoyant enough to float away in heavy current.