Surviving Floods - The Basics

As I write, huge amounts of the country of Pakistan are suffering from a flood the United Nations has declared worse than the 2004 tsunami.

I don't know if there's a way to prepare for disaster on such a large scale, particularly in a poor country where most people live hand to mouth anyway. We can't comprehend the scope of a catastrophe where so many are dead and dying, and millions have lost their homes and livelihoods.

Fortunately, the United States is not so at risk. But, living in the St Louis area, I know The Mississippi River can flood again as it did in 1973 and 1993. Its waters got unusually high this year, but stopped short of reaching flood level, though it did block roads in Grafton.

What's truly amazing is that people who know they're living in the flood zone, in West Alton and similar areas, continue to live there.

Even if you've never been flooded, if you live in a flood plain, you can't count on the dikes always holding. They didn't in 1993, and may break again.

Therefore, you must be prepared.

Back up all your valuables and personal belongings. Keep them with family or in a safe deposit box in a bank on high ground.

The Mississippi River rises slowly in the spring. You can watch the flood approach -- unless it comes to your house through a broken dike. And in other places floods happen much more quickly.

Keep your car in good running condition and with a full tank of gas. Also load your trunk with 72 hour emergency food kits for everybody in your family. And include jugs of water, blankets, and supplies such as flashlights and a first aid kit.

Even if your house is not threatened, keep supplies of fresh water.

My mother's house sits back from the bluffs rising up from the Mississippi River on the Illinois side north of St Louis. However, her water is cleaned by a facility on the bank of the river, which was shut down by the flood. Soon she had to boil water like everybody else, and accept free cans of it donated by Anheuser-Busch.

And if there's the least danger of flood damage to your house, make sure you take out special flood insurance. Regular home owners insurance won't cover flood damage.

Have a plan about where to go in case you need to evacuate. Don't just drive a few miles and look for a cheap motel. Have a plan, and make sure your out of town family and friends know where to find you if your home phone goes out. Make sure your children know where to wait if you have to pick them up at school or other activities. And where to pick up a working spouse.

Before leaving your house, turn off the water going into your home, turn off the natural gas going into your home and shut down your electricity as much as possible.

Don't drive through water in the streets. You can stall your engine so it doesn't start again, and even damage the engine.