Flood Safety

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Terms to Know:

Flash Flood Watch:

A Flash Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flash flooding. It does not mean that flash flooding will occur, but it is possible.

Flash Flood Warning:

A Flash Flood Warning is issued when flash flooding is imminent or occurring.

Flood Watch:

A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding. It does not mean flooding will occur, but it is possible.

Flood Warning:

A Flood Warning is issued when flooding is imminent or occurring.

Know Your Risk:

It is important to know your area’s flood risk.

(Click the image below to access the Georgia Flood Program map)

Basic Safety Tips:

  • Turn Around, Don’t Drown! ®
  • Avoid walking or driving through flood waters.
  • Do not drive over bridges that are over fast-moving floodwaters. Floodwaters can scour foundation material from around the footings and make the bridge unstable.
  • Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
  • If there is a chance of flash flooding, move immediately to higher ground.
  • If floodwaters rise around your car but the water is not moving, abandon the car and move to higher ground. Do not leave the car and enter moving water.
  • Avoid camping or parking along streams, rivers, and creeks during heavy rainfall. These areas can flood quickly and with little warning.

Before Flooding:

  • Establish a family communications plan and prepare an Emergency Kit.
  • Keep insurance policies, documents, and other values in a safe deposit box and keep copies in a waterproof contained in your kit.
  • Have multiple ways to receive warnings and weather alerts. Crisp County Emergency Management uses sirens, CodeRED, local news media, and social media to alert residents of any significant weather events.
  • If you are in a potential flood zone move your furniture and valuables to higher floors of your home if possible.

During Flooding:

  • If it has been raining hard for several hours, or steadily raining for several days, be alert to the possibility of a flood.
  • Closely monitor a local radio station, TV station, NOAA Weather Radio or the Ready Georgia app for flood information.
  • Follow the instructions of local officials. If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.
  • Do not drive around barricades. They are there for your safety.
  • NEVER drive through standing water. It only takes one foot to float a full-sized automobile and two feet can sweep it away.
    • More than half of flood victims are in vehicles swept away by moving water.
  • Move to higher ground away from rivers, streams, creeks and storm drains.
  • Stay out of floodwaters if possible. The water may be contaminated or electrically charged. However, if your car stalls in rapidly rising waters, get out immediately and seek higher ground.
    • Six inches of fast-moving water can knock a person off his or her feet
  • Stay away from downed power lines to avoid the risk of electric shock or electrocution.

Souce:http://ready.ga.gov/be-informed/floods-and-flash-floods/


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