Flood Information

Prepare for Flooding in Rural Areas

Becky Koch — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:15:00 -0500

Ken Hellevang, NDSU Extension Engineer

If you live in a rural area, have a plan to shelter in place if roads become impassable. The shelter should have everything needed, such as communication devices, food, water, electricity, fuel, medical kit and emergency transportation.

To be prepared to be on your own in general:

Assemble supplies, such as water and food, that don't require refrigeration or cooking. Have a battery-powered flashlight and radio, plus extra batteries in case the electricity goes off.
Have an emergency power source such as a standby generator. This is critical if you have livestock confinement buildings that need ventilation.
Move or prepare to move important documents.
Develop an evacuation plan and a kit containing medicine, money, documents and other items that can be grabbed during an emergency evacuation. These items could be missed in the chaos of an evacuation if not prepared in advance.

If you have a well, septic system or propane tank:

Take steps to reduce the chance of contaminants entering your well. If the well likely will be affected by the flood, turn off the electrical power to the well and seal it by installing a watertight cap or cover. If you don't have time to install a watertight cap, cover the top of the well with heavy plastic sheeting and secure it with electrical or strapping tape or some other type of waterproof taping material. Don't use duct tape because it is not waterproof.
If your septic system's drain field may be flooded or saturated, plug all basement drains and drastically reduce water use in the house. Don't run water from a basement sump pump into the septic system or let water from roof gutters or the sump pump discharge into the drain field.
Plug floor drains if flooding is occurring next to the house because water can flow back through the septic system. Unbolt toilets from the floor and plug the outlet pipe, shower drains, washing machine and basement sink drain.
Floating propane tanks are a common problem during floods. Identify large tanks with your name and address so they can be returned if they become displaced.

Specifically for farms or ranches:

Move machinery, feed, grain, fuel and agricultural chemicals, such as pesticides and herbicides, to higher ground.
Move motors and portable electric equipment to a dry location if possible.
Anchor fuel and other tanks to keep them from moving with the floodwaters.
Determine whether underground tanks are engineered to keep them from lifting out of the ground if the contents are lighter than water.
Turn off electrical power to all buildings that could flood.
Keep an inventory of livestock and property such as machinery and equipment.
Prepare a list of hazardous or potentially hazardous substances.
Move livestock to higher ground and be sure you have access to feed.
If you have dairy cattle, develop plans for moving your cows to temporary milking facilities and learn about emergency milk pick-up services available in your area.
Place riprap on the banks of earthen manure storage areas where flowing water may erode berms.

Family Disaster Supply Kit

Becky Koch — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:30:00 -0500

Why Your Family Needs a Disaster Supply Kit

You may need to survive on your own after a disaster. Households should be self-sufficient for at least three days (72 to 96 hours). This means having your own food, water and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last at least three days. The more severe the disaster, the longer you may be on your own. Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. It can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days for rescue workers to meet your family’s needs. That’s why it’s vital to have a supplies kit on hand to be able to sustain yourself until assistance is available. In addition, basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment and telephones may be cut off for days or even a week or longer.

Your Disaster Supply Kit

Your family needs:

food
water
supplies

to survive for at least three days.

Keep your disaster supply kit in a designated place that all family members know.
Have your disaster supply kit (or at least part of it) easy to grab if you must leave your home.
Disaster supply kits are for survival, not necessarily comfort. Do not overpack with things you can live without.

What to Keep in Your Disaster Kit: Food

Water -- 1 gallon per person and per pet for each day; rotate supply every 6 months and use by "use by" date

Food -- about 2,000 calories per person per day

Nonperishable
Won’t make you thirsty
High-energy foods -- peanut butter, jelly, low-salt crackers and
nuts, granola bars, whole-grain cereals, canned foods that can be eaten cold
High liquid content -- such as canned fruits
Comfort or stress-release foods -- sweetened cereals, candy, instant coffee, cookies
Special dietary needs -- infants, seniors, diabetics
No refrigeration, cooking, water or special preparation
Manual can opener
Consider alternative cooking sources -- solar oven, alcohol fuel fondue pot

What to Keep in Your Disaster Kit: Supplies

Clothing
Blankets
Personal hygiene items
Toilet paper and plastic pail
Battery or windup flashlight, extra batteries
Whistle to blow for help if you need to be found
Battery or windup radio -- NOAA weather radio is best
Comfort items -- favorite doll, toy or book for children; games, books
Prescription medications and other specialized medical supplies
First aid kit -- purchase or assemble one with supplies listed at www.ready.gov or www.redcross.org
Nonprescription drugs -- aspirin, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids and any other medications your family uses

Flooded Home: Electrical Issues

Julie Kuehl — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:20:00 -0500

Flooded Home: Checking Out the Mechanical Systems

Julie Kuehl — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:20:00 -0500

Flooded Home: Drying Out

Julie Kuehl — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:20:00 -0500

Flooded Home: Entering Home for the First Time

Julie Kuehl — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:35:00 -0500

Flooded Home: Inspecting the Outside of the Structure

Julie Kuehl — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:35:00 -0500

Protecting Children After a Flood

Becky Koch — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 21:45:00 -0500

After floodwaters have receded, people begin working to get back into their neighborhoods and homes. However, precautions must be taken to protect children from potential hazards due to the flood and associated cleanup.

The potential presence of disease-causing pathogens in once-flooded homes and yards is a concern. Contaminated floodwater, sewage and sediment removed from basements may linger in the streets and low areas. It is important to keep children away from these areas.

Children should be prevented from playing in or near areas where flood debris is being removed and homes are being renovated. Parents are encouraged to remember that these are construction sites where materials like metal, nails, broken glass, insulation, household hazardous waste and electronic debris can be found. Airborne dust resulting from cleanup and renovation also may be present. Young children must be kept away from these hazards. Older children who will be present must have appropriate breathing and eye protection, and wear protective boots, gloves, clothing and hard hats.

Floodwaters typically contain microbial contaminants such as fecal coliforms and other pollutants. Gastrointestinal illness or other health problems may occur if these contaminants get into the body. Drying, exposure to sunlight and incorporation into the soil will help reduce contamination over time. However, depending upon a variety of environmental factors, it can take up to three months for illness-causing bacteria to significantly be reduced in the sediment left behind by flooding. Adults should help children understand the hazard and prevent them from coming in contact with contaminated sediment.

Since the hazard is associated with contaminants entering the body, keep hands away from the face where contaminants may enter eyes or the mouth. Frequent hand washing, particularly before eating, is recommended.

Avoid tracking sediment into clean areas, and restrict pets from entering areas where they may collect sediment and then transfer it to humans. Hand washing is essential after handling pets that have been outdoors.

Warn children about other hazards such as downed power lines and broken tree branches. They should not play around any water, including puddles, drainage ways, streams and rivers. Children should avoid contact with stray dogs, cats, snakes or other wild animals, and they should not touch dead animals. Children also should have adequate insect repellent and be encouraged to wash their hands frequently.

Any outdoor playground equipment that was flooded must be cleaned and sanitized before use. Sand from flooded sandboxes must be removed and replaced with fresh, washed sand.

For more information on flooding and post-flood precautions and cleanup, visit the Centers for Disease Control Web page at www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/ or the NDSU flood website at www.ag.ndsu.edu/flood/. In addition, educational materials for children can be found at www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/educationalmaterials.asp.

Gary Haberstroh
Environmental Engineer
North Dakota Department of Health
918 East Divide Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58501-1947
(701) 328.5206

Kenneth Hellevang, Ph.D., P.E.
Extension Engineer & Professor
Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering Department
North Dakota State University Extension Service
NDSU Dept 7620, P.O. Box 6050, Fargo, ND 58108-6050
(701) 231-7243

Items to Take for Children Evacuating

Becky Koch — Fri, 27 May 2011 09:40:00 -0500

Sean Brotherson, NDSU Extension Family Science Specialist

PDF Version

Evacuating their home obviously is stressful for children. Plan ahead by packing a disaster supplies kit for each of your children to grab if your family has to evacuate.

For all children

Medical equipment, and prescription and over-the-counter medications
Changes of clothes for several days
A pillow and/or familiar blanket
Favorite books, toys, hand-held games, music devices, board games, etc., to occupy your child's attention
Favorite toys or items that provide security, such as a stuffed animal or blanket
A few favorite personal or family photos
Toiletry items, such as toothbrush and toothpaste, comb or brush
A page with identification details about your child (height, weight, hair and eye color, etc.), a photo that shows you with your child, contact names and phone numbers (including cell phone numbers and out-of-state contacts) in case your child gets separated from you

For infants

Formula and/or baby food
Diapers and baby hygiene items

For older children

Markers, pens or pencils; paper to occupy time and write or draw what they're experiencing

If there's time, have older children pack their own kits and prioritize what to take. This will help them feel more in control.

Put the items in a backpack or wheeled suitcase that older children can carry.

Remind children that you'll take care of them and they'll be safe.

Plugging Home Drains to Prevent Sewage Backup - Video

Robert Bertsch — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:50:00 -0600

To reduce the possibility of sewage backing into a home, homeowners need to seal areas where sewage can flow in during periods of excessive rains or flooding. Sewage not only can damage building components and carpeting, it also has high concentrations of bacteria, protozoans and other pathogens that can pose serious health risks. Water will seek the lowest level, so if the level of sewage or floodwater is higher than the drains in the home, such as those in the basement, a backup can occur.

Plugging Home Drains to Prevent Sewage Backup - 8-page publication

Planning Ahead: Plugging Household Drains -- 13-minute video

Sandbagging Safety Tips

Robert Bertsch — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:30:00 -0600

Having trouble with the video above?

Download a version to watch with Quicktimeor ITunes

Additional Resources

Robert Bertsch — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:35:00 -0600

Orientation to N.D. Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD)-Narrated Slideshow
Lutheran Disaster Response and Other Faith-based and VOAD Partnerships - Narrated Slideshow
Disaster Response in North Dakota - Narrated Slideshow
Extension Disaster Education Network
RiverWatch (Prairie Public Broadcasting)
Fargo Flood
N.D. Agricultural Weather Network
NOAA Weather
Flood and Flash Flood (American Red Cross)
Disaster Resouces (University of Illinois)
Flood Information (FEMA)
ready.gov
National Weather Service/Grand Forks
National Weather Service/Bismarck

Resources in Other Languages

Robert Bertsch — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:30:00 -0600

Arabic

Serbo-Croatian

Spanish

Preparing a Home That Will be Flooded
Returning Home After a Flood (North Carolina State University)
Adult Stress (North Carolina State University)
Child Stress (After the Storm: Helping Your Children) (North Carolina State University)
Stress in a Child: What Parents Can Do (North Carolina State University)
Texas AgriLife Extension Disaster Resources En Espanol

American Sign Language and Audio

Flood Cleanup Information(Texas Dept. of Public Safety)

Multiple Languages

Copyright

Robert Bertsch — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:29:07 -0600

This information may be photocopied for noncommercial, educational purposes in its entirety with no changes.

Requests to use any portion of the document should be sent to NDSU.permission@ndsu.edu.

North Dakota State University Agriculture Communication
Dept. 7070
Morrill 7, P.O. Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050

Designated Agent: Digital Millennium Copyright Act

Privacy Statement

Robert Bertsch — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:29:06 -0600

The policy of the North Dakota State University Agriculture and University Extension is to respect the privacy of all users of information technology services. This electronic privacy statement is intended to inform the Agriculture and University Extension clients of Agriculture and University Extension information gathering and usage practices.

North Dakota University System Policy and Procedure, 1901.2, NDSU Policies and Procedures 158 and 710, and federal and state law stake precedence over this privacy statement.

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