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Flooding Do You Know What To Do? Article written by John Ard, Fire Inspector
Posted by Anne
Floods kill people and destroy homes in many parts of the United States every year. Federal agencies estimate that an average of over 125 people die every year in the United States because of flooding, although losses vary widely from year to year. Property damage ranges into the billions each year, and has been rising in recent decades.
A flash flood is really any sudden, severe flood event, and they can have a variety of causes — although large sudden downpours are the main ones. The effects of a downpour are worsened when terrain will not absorb water. Reasons vary: soil type (e.g. clay), lack of vegetation, steepness, extensive pavement (urban areas), frozen or ice-covered soil, or the saturation of soil by previous rains.
Floods generally come in two flavors: river floods and flash floods. In general, a river flood is just what the name implies: too much water in a river's watershed. It often affects a wide area, quite often an entire region, and has a slower onset and retreat than a flash flood. This leads to a different time problem than a flash flood, which comes and goes in a hurry. In river floods a major problem is exhaustion of the rescuers over an extended time period.
A flash flood, on the other hand, tends to be an intense but short-term event. The entire incident may last only four to six hours from start to finish, or it may be the start of a long-term river flood. One of the salient characteristics of a flash flood is that there are a very large numbers of life-threatening incidents in a very short time. A flash flood may affect an entire region, or it may be localized to only a few city blocks. Time, always, is the rescuer's enemy, and the major management problem is that there are never enough rescue resources to go around.
All floods, generally speaking, have three phases, which often overlap:
Swiftwater Phase: this initial phase is where the most fatalities (and the most rescues) occur. Large numbers of people, including those in rescue agencies, are caught unaware, often in darkness. Many are swept away. Statistically the two largest groups are people killed are 1) those driving through moving water and 2) children playing near flooded creeks and flood channels. The sheer number of incidents overwhelms dispatch and available units.
Flood Phase: the situation stabilizes somewhat, but there is standing water everywhere and rivers may continue to rise, further restricting access. Those who are able have rescued themselves, at least gotten to positions of less immediate danger like the roofs of houses or the tops of cars. Because of the flooding, rescue units cannot access many locations. Large numbers of people may have to be evacuated from flooded areas and are displaced to shelters. In a river flood, this phase may be prolonged, sometimes for months.
Recovery Phase: the water begins to recede and people return to their homes. The dangers of this stage are more indirect—downed power lines, debris, disease, contaminated water and food, etc. The are major infrastructure problems—washed out roads; loss of power; lack of clean water. Rebuilding begins.
What rescue resources might we expect to use in a flood? The most obvious would be specialized water rescue teams. These, especially any used in the initial phases of the flood, must have swiftwater-specific training. Dive teams or those with only generic water rescue training only put themselves and the victims at risk in fast-moving water. However helpful these specialized teams are, however, there will never be enough of them to go around in flood event. To supplement them, we first need to look close to home.
There are many non-specialized rescuers in any flood zone. These include law enforcement personnel (police, sheriff, etc.), firefighters, rescue squads, and EMS personnel. However, these people need at least minimal training and equipment for simple rescues and to protect themselves. While all these groups will protest that they don't do water rescue, the simple truth is that during a flood, everyone will be doing it. Do not overlook other local resources, like municipal storm water personnel; power crews; and other city/county/state employees whose duties take them into the flood area.
Outside resources include mutual aid from surrounding jurisdictions (who may be having their own problems), and military assistance from the regular military and National Guard, and Coast Guard. Don't overlook qualified volunteers.
How to Prepare for a Flood
Before a Flood
1. Find out where your flood prone areas are in your community
2. Update Flood procedures for your family and business (every year)
3. Buy sand bags ahead of time
4. To minimize flood damage:
---Store valuables at higher elevations
---Ensure that underground storage tanks are fully sealed and secure
---Move vehicles and RVs to higher ground
5. Keep emergency supplies on hand
---Portable Radio, flashlights, fresh batteries, food and water, medicine and a first-aid kit
During a Flood
1. Keep a battery powered radio tuned to a local station (local EOC)
---Follow all emergency instructions
2. Do not walk or wade in flooded areas
3. Be prepared to evacuate car or home
4. If you evacuate the area by car:
---Do not drive where water is over the road or past barricaded road signs
---If your car stalls in a flooded area, abandon it as soon as possible and walk to safety
Water Rescue Methods
The following methods can be used in order to rescue a victim during a water emergency.
• REACH-----Extend a long-handled tool to the victim.
• THROW------Throw a rope or flotation device with an attached rope to the victim.
• ROW------Use a boat to retrieve the victim.
• GO------Swim to the victim and drag the victim to safety.
WARNING
The row and go rescue techniques should be attempted only by those who have been specifically trained in their application.
  
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