Here are some things your Utah plumber would recommend that you do to prepare for flooding.
- If you can, try to move some things up to higher ground. Your water heater, furnace and electrical panels should all be moved higher if possible.
- Install check valves and sewer traps so sewage doesn’t come back through the pipes into your house.
- Keep a radio or television on to listen to flood warnings.
- Before you are told to leave, try to get all outside furniture inside the house.
- Take all your most valuable things up to the highest floor.
- Disconnect the electrical appliances and turn off the utilities at the main switches or valves. Don’t step into water to do this. Just leave if there is already water in the area where the electrical switches are.
- Be responsible for your family and yourself and your pets.
- Don’t wait to leave until the danger is high.
- Pack essentials into your car and leave when you are told to do so.
- Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can knock an adult down. If you must walk into water, find a spot where the water is not moving.
- In your car, try not to drive into moving water. Six inches of moving water will stall most cars. In twelve inches of moving water most cars will float. Two feet of moving water can carry away cars, SUVs and trucks.
- Don’t deliberately drive into flood areas. Water will cover dead animals, broken debris and holes in the ground and may hide electrically charged water from downed lines.
- Only come back to your house when you are told it is safe to do so. The flooded waters will be contaminated with oil and gasoline and raw sewage so don’t use the water in your home until it’s been serviced by a plumber.
This article was donated to Utah County Reviews by Inline Plumbing Utah.