Residents of Fargo, South Dakota are battling the Red River once again as it has reached the critical stage of a “major flood” today. As of 7:00 a.m., the river was 12-feet above flood stage at 30.34 feet, according to CNN. Waters are expected to get as high as 38 feet over the weekend.
Major Flood Stage
The term, “major flood stage,” was developed by the National Weather Service to describe floods whose waters have covered roads and buildings. When waters reach this stage possessions should be elevated, such as to the 2nd-story of a house, and residents should be prepare for an evacuation.
The recent flood was caused by the recent warm weather and rain melting snow, causing the Red River to swell in the Fargo area. There are still patches of ice and snow that have yet to melt.
One of the most important things to do before a storm is to have a plan: have a plan for your business, and have a plan for your home. This plan should include directions on where items should be stored to protect them from flood waters, preparing an emergency disaster kit that’s ready to go should there be an evacuation, and having a list of important phone numbers so you can reach family members, schools, insurance agents, etc. Being prepared will aid in business continuity and getting things back to normal afterwards.
What to do After a Flood
Do not go into a building to assess the damage unless an expert has said it is safe to do so. Call your insurance company to file a claim if you have flood insurance. Begin restoring wet items before mold can cause damage by placing them out to dry and calling a flood restoration specialist. Many items like documents, books and photographs can be dried and restored after a storm with the help of specialist as well.
The Salt Lake Tribune reports that a computer glitch caused a big problem for the residents of Cedar Hills, Utah. The error caused a water tank to dump “tens of thousands of gallons of water” in to streets and a home on Saturday morning. The tank can push 7,000 gallons of water out per minute.
The water flowed down a hill to Canyon Road, bringing rocks and other items in its path with it. Officials think the computer malfunction was caused by an electrical storm the previous day, which threw-off sensors that indicate when tanks are full of water.
“Most of the water stayed in a flood channel built by the city, although a clog in the channel forced some water into the front yard and driveway of one home.”
These home videos shot by a resident of Cedar Hills show the muddy water flowing down a hill, towards a home.
Central Franklin County in Western Massachusetts has been warned about the threat of flash floods after heavy rains may amount to up to 4 inches by Sunday morning.
Doppler radar has already indicated areas that have already flooded due to excessive run-off waters into streams.
“…Flooding of urban areas including roads and underpasses is also expected. Do not drive through flooded roadways.
…Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Never drive into areas where water covers the roadway. Flood waters are usually deeper than they appear. Just one foot of flowing water is powerful enough to sweep vehicles off the road. When encountering flooding roads make the smart choice…turn around…don’t drown.
To report flooding have the nearest law enforcement agency relay your report to the national weather service in Taunton.”
If there is a flood warning for your area, move valuables to a higher elevation in the home or building. Also make sure your emergency disaster kit is prepared and your vehicle is ready to go in the case of an evacuation. More on preparing for a flood.
Residents of North Dakota affected by the severe winter storms and flooding after March 13, 2009 can register to receive assistance by registering online at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling FEMA’s toll-free telephone number (800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585).
Aid available will cover emergency home repair, temporary housing, replacement grants, and other needs that may not be covered by insurance policies. This aid, however, will mostly cover only basic needs and not entire losses, which will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
FEMA has stated the following on their site:
“When applying for help, be sure to have the following information available:
Your current telephone number;
Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you now are staying;
Your Social Security number, if available;
A general list of damages and losses you suffered;
If insured, the name of your company or agent and your policy number;
Bank account coding if you wish to speed up your assistance with direct deposit.”
Check out FEMA’s site for more information on receiving assistance.
It’s Flood Safety Week. According the FEMA and NOAA, floods account for 90% of the natural disasters in the United States. Floods can be caused by snow melt, hurricanes and tropical storms, flash floods, severe storms, and levee failures. Not only are floods the most prevalent of the natural disasters, but are also the most costly and deadly of the disasters.
FEMA and NOAA have paired up and created FloodSmart.gov, a site that educates one about the risks involved with floods, the costs of floods financially and personally, and what one can do to protect against flood risks. It is estimated that 25% of flood claims are from areas that are not in areas considered to be “high-risk”.
FloodSmart.gov outlines how one can begin to recover from a flood.
Residents of North Dakota affected by the severe winter storms and flooding after March 13, 2009 can register to receive assistance by registering online at 
