Disaster Recovery News

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Residents of California are going to need more than just their raincoats and goulashes as rains hit the states, with heavier precipitation expected to fall on Southern California later on Tuesday evening and into Wednesday. An MSNBC report states the National Weather Service (NOAA) predicts that up to 8 inches of rain could fall in some parts of the state, with as much as 10 inches of snow in the mountains. As a result, NOAA has issued flood warnings, flashflood warnings and winter weather advisories across the state. Already, more than 13 feet of snow has fallen in the mountain ranges, as well as over 12 inches of rain.

Mud Slides Feared

MSNBC states that LA homes at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountain are at risk for experiencing damage from mudslides or debris flows that could carry trees, soil and boulders. Geologists have already detected debris flows of 3 feet per mile in the Arroyo Seco watercourse. If the rain falls at a rate of an inch per hour or more, the risk for debris flows or mudslides will be higher.

Evacuations

Officials in Kern County have already evacuated more than 2,000 residents because as many as 500 homes are at risk for flooding. If your neighborhood is being evacuated, follow the instructions of the rescue workers assisting with the efforts. Learn which streets are blocked, and let residents of the home who are away from it know that you have evacuated, the route you plan to take and where you plan to stay. While you are out, do not attempt to drive through large puddles or pools of water, as it does not take much to sweep a car into a current.

Make a Plan

Unexpected moments like these remind us of the importance of developing an emergency disaster plan and kit. What is equally as important as knowing how to get out of harm’s way is having a plan to get back on your feet after the event—a plan to recover and get your life and business back to normal.

Learn about what to do after a storm.

The staff of the Surry County Chapter of the Red Cross in North Carolina found they were the ones needing help this weekend. Pipes in the ceiling burst and flooded the whole building. Frigid temperatures caused the break in the pipes.

The executive director of the Red Cross Chapter took measures to prevent the break in the pipes by turning up the heat in the building. She also left the lights in the attic of the building on in hopes that the heat produced would keep the pipes warm enough. Nevertheless, leaving lights on in a building is not enough to prevent pipes from bursting. This was made obvious from the ceiling tiles and insulation that were destroyed by the water.

Read the full story.

If you have a small business or run a small office, find out how one can prepare for flooding. One can also see tips about how to recover wet documents after a flood.

Much of the southern United States got more than a little wet today when 6-8 inches of rain poured down. Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Florida were the states majorly affected, but Alabama, Georgia, and Florida were the hardest hit.

Many roads and homes in low areas got flooded. The National Weather Service states that some of the rivers affected will remain flooded into next week. Flood watches are in effect for the eastern part of the United States from Florida up to parts of New England.

Business in this area can contact a flood recovery company that can help them get back up and running if they have been affected by the flooding.

Learn more about recovering after a flood.

In a city council meeting in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Justin Shields placed an idea before his fellow council members: people should begin to  pay an emergency local-option sales tax of 2 percent extra for the next two years. The money collected would go towards recovery for victims of the June 2008 flood.

Rick Smith with The Gazette reported:

 ”Shields said it’s clear that neither the federal nor the state government is going to provide the city with the disaster relief it needs. Shields, who represents sections of the southwest quadrant hit hard by the June flood, said he can’t keep telling flood victims to hold on, help is coming…School districts already have a 1 percent local-option sales tax in place in the county, and the state has a 5 percent tax. Most of the state’s largest cities have a 1 percent tax, too.”

The increase in sales tax for a couple of years is Shields’ answer to how the citizens of his community can be supported without having to take money out of the city or county’s budget, therefore, preventing more job losses. Some are looking at this idea as a way people in the community can help each other in this time of need.

Some are opposed to Shields’ idea with the current economic crisis in the United States. Read more here.

Learn about the flood recovery process and disaster recovery services.