Only 6 inches of Flood Water Can Knock you Down: Flash Flood Facts and Safety Tips

Only 6 inches of flood water can knock you down: Flash Flood Facts and Safety Tips

According to the National Weather Service, a mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.

It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away a small car, while 2 feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles.

Follow any evacuation instructions if they are given, and remember that emergency vehicles always get the right of way.

After the flood, if your home has sustained any damage, do a walk-through and take pictures of and notes on any damage. Then call your insurance company.

Make sure your home has a working sump pump. If it does not, call us and we can send a plumber out to install one.

If you haven’t already, consider having important equipment, like your air conditioner unit, water heater and other appliances mounted off of the floor. This might give all of it a better chance of getting through a flood with minimal or no damage.

Make sure you know how to shut off your home’s electrical system and any gas source in the event of an emergency.

• Never step into a flooded basement or other room if water may be in contact with electrical outlets, appliances or cords.
• Never attempt to turn power off (or on) at the breaker box if you must stand in water to do so.
• Never use electric appliances or touch electric wires, switches or fuses when you’re wet or when you’re standing in water.
• Keep electric tools and equipment at least 10 feet away from wet surfaces. Do not use electric yard tools if it’s raining or the ground is wet.

Even after the flood, during the clean-up process when the flood waters have dispersed, there are still serious risks associated with electricity and the possibility of electrocution from water-damaged appliances.

• Flood water contaminates any appliance that is submerged, or even partially submerged and this includes your breaker box and general electrical wiring in your home.
• If any of your electrical appliances have come in contact with water they are water-damaged and there is a very high chance they will never again be safe to use.
• After the event of a flood in your home, make sure you consult a professional electrician to verify the safety of your electrical appliances, large and small.