Storms and Flooding

Preparing for Storms

Please first review the information in the General Disaster Preparedness section.

In addition to the General Disaster Preparedness information, there are some simple things that can be done to ensure you are as prepared as you can be for storm season on SMBI.

Gutters – It is crucial that you have your gutters cleared of leaf and other debris before storm season and that you ensure your gutters remain clear throughout the entire season. Many SES calls are placed to help with flooding caused by water overflowing gutters that have not been properly maintained.

Drains – As well as ensuring your gutters are clear of debris, it is recommended to ensure any drains you have are cleared of debris so any excess water can flow away from your house or garage.

Emergency Drains – If it looks like you may be going to suffer some unexpected water inundation, digging an emergency drain or trench to direct the water away may be a good move. Please be sure you have a shovel in your tool kit.

Sandbags and Plastic – Can I just clear something up right away? Sandbags are NOT designed to stop water inundation. Right, now we have that clear, what sandbags (and similar things, like bricks, besser blocks, etc) are designed to do is to hold plastic water barriers or other floof barriers in place. Plastic water barriers can be black plastic rolls or sheets from a hardware store, large garbage bags, or anything like this. For more information on how to properly use sandbags, look here.

Loose items – All loose items should be secured. These can be tied in place, placed inside, or possibly even sunk in a pool – during a storm there is enough danger without the added risks of flying furniture.

Power – It is possible that power loss will occur during a severe weather incident. Be prepared with alternate sources of power, and also keep some form of communication nearby and turned on so you can keep up to date with the conditions.