http://www.wisetosafety.com/safety/flooding.html Flooding of rivers can lead to incredible damage and casualties. en-us Wed, 31 May 2006 07:50:39 EDT Wed, 31 May 2006 07:50:39 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0 The threat of flooding in low-lying areas If the hurricanes of 2005 (most notably Katrina) taught us anything, it's that the risk of flooding is as dangerous, if not more so, than the category 3-4 winds themselves. When the New Orleans levees broke, there was nowhere for the overflowing water in the rivers and lakes to go but into the streets of the Big Easy, which essentially lies at sea level. This created mass hysteria and endangered the safety of hundreds of thousands. With the roads washed out, evacuating floods became next to impossible. So what can we do about this? Is there any way we can stave off the damage the next time around? Protecting yourself from flooding and wind As far as weather safety goes, you are taking a risk any time you reside in an area such as New Orleans. Flat, low-lying places like that wonderful city are at constant risk of runoff from huge storms. But, as far as flood safety goes, the best you can do is to plan your escape route ahead of time, and ensure that your home has the proper financial coverage. A lot of hurricane insurance packages do not cover flooding -- much to the chagrin of residents whose houses survived an initial lashing but were later rotted out by rising waters. The fiscal aspects of home safety are as important as the physical ones. Always plan ahead, to the best of your ability, when buying a home. Take note of where the nearby bodies of water are, and their flood risk. If you buy a home in a flood zone, or even near one, please insure it. Make sure your family and friends are taking similar precautions. You may never be able to stop the forces of nature, but a little forethought will help you survive the worst flooding disasters and live to rebuild. That's about as good as you can do when going up against a natural disaster -- be forewarned! Wed, 31 May 2006 07:50:39 EDT