On Thursday August 12th, the residents of Ames lined up to receive bottled water from various sites in the city one day after history-making flooding caused pipe breaks that left this college town without drinking water. Residents are being urged to use as little water as possible until the eight broken water mains can be repaired and the water restored. The tap water can be be made suitable for drinking if it is boiled but residents are still being asked to use as little as possible because it will take the city longer to turn the water back on if taps are running.

The flooding in Ames was the result of three consecutive nights of pounding, heavy rain that caused creeks and rivers in the central portion of Iowa to swell and overflow their banks. In Des Moines, Ames and Colfax, hundreds of people were forced to evacuate. One sixteen year old girl lost her life when a car she was in was swept away by a flooded creek outside Des Moines.

Ames is home to Iowa State University and the campus was shut down today with faculty and students being told to remain at home where it is safe. There were at least eight buildings on campus that were affected by flood water as nearby Squaw Creek overflowed its banks. There is a total of four feet of standing flood water on the basketball floor inside Hilton Coliseum. College officials do not know just yet how soon the building will re-open as the damage must be assessed.

Hundreds of Des Moines residents were told to evacuate their homes in the Four Mile Creek area on Wednesday when the creek spilled out of its banks after the heavy rains. Many of the residents will not be able to return to their homes for several days until the city and midAmerican Energy officials determine it is safe. Many of the displaced residents checked into emergency shelters that were set up in the area such as the one at the Hiatt Middle School on 15th Street.

One of the best things any Iowan can do before a flood is to consider purchasing flood insurance. Most homeowner policies do not cover flooding so it is advisable to speak to your insurance provider to find out what type of coverage they offer. According to FEMA about twenty-five percent of all flood insurance claims come from outside high risk areas.
It is also a good idea to have a family emergency plan readied with an emergency kit that includes lots of drinking water, first aide supplies, non-perishable foods, a radio with extra batteries, flashlights and bedding.

Safety comes first whenever flooding is an issue. If a flash flood watch or a flood watch is put in effect, this means that flooding is very possible. A flood warning or flash flood warning indicates that flooding is taking place or will very soon. Iowa residents living in these areas should evacuate their homes immediately when told to do so. Before leaving, turn off all appliances and place a sandbag over the basement drain. It is also a good idea to post a note on the front door indicating that you have left the home, along with a cell phone number where you can be reached to verify that you and your family are safe from harm.

It is never advisable to walk through flood waters as strong currents could very well carry away people, cars and other items which could cause serious injury or even death. It takes just six inches of moving water to knock an average sized person off his feet and only twelve inches to carry a vehicle away. Also, flood water is most often contaminated by sewage, chemicals and gas so it should not be waded in or used for swimming. If flash flooding is occurring and it appears that the water is deep and fast moving, do not under any circumstances take any chances. In this case it is best to move to a higher floor or the roof and wait until help arrives.

Even though you may be accustomed to flooding, this is no reason to let your guard done. It is always best to be prepared ahead of time and to take the necessary steps to ensure that you and your family is safe. Flooding claims the lives of dozens and dozens of Americans each year, so to avoid becoming a statistic, use some common sense and good judgment.

Severe thunderstorms swept through central Oklahoma on Monday which triggered flash floods that left over 130 people with injuries. Roads and cars have become completely submerged and there are now thousands of residents without power. Governor Brad Henry has declared a state of emergency in fifty-nine of the seventy-seven counties in the state. The National Weather Service has confirmed that nearly ten inches of rain fell between Sunday night and Monday morning which has caused creeks and rivers to overflow their banks and rush into residential areas.

The Red Cross has opened a center for displaced victims at an elementary school in Edmond, which is just outside Oklahoma City. Numerous government buildings in the metro area were damaged by the flood water and those agencies are now closed or have cut back their services.

Residents are being urged to stay out of the flood water as it can contain contaminants, sharp objects, oil, gas and even raw sewage. Many people living in the area are reporting that they have not seen flooding this bad in over two decades. Rescue crews are being kept busy saving stranded residents who are clinging to trees or struggling with the fast moving water. So far, there have been over 25 water rescues made. Flood warnings were issued all across the breadbasket region yesterday and are extended into today.

Many motorists found themselves trapped inside their vehicles yesterday while on their way to work when roads and interstates were suddenly swamped with quick moving, dirty water. Today, there are vehicles totally submerged in water on the roads with only their rooftops showing. Local television footage showed a driver frantically bailing water of of a side window of his halfway-submerged car before being rescued by a boat. In the Ski Island district, fire fighters went door-to-door to ask residents to evacuate their homes due to the worries that a nearby dam would overflow.

Unfortunately, the good people of the region do not have anything to look forward to regarding the weather as more rain is in the forecast for the next few days. Residents are being reminded to keep on eye on the local weather reports. Homeowners in flood-prone areas should take the necessary precautions to keep rising flood waters out of their homes.

1. Microbial Growth
Elementary science has taught you that microorganisms thrive well in moist and wet environments. Infectious diseases are rampant when flooding occurs because water from sewage and other unsanitary areas can easily enter your home carrying with it bacteria, mites, and molds which can cause infections, allergies, and other far worse medical conditions. Additionally, you need to throw away items that have been soaked with floodwater and cannot be disinfected completely such as pillows and mattresses.

2. Electricity
Water and electricity do not mix, period. So if you are trying to enter a wet or damp area and you notice there are electrical wires and outlets, stop, and turn off electrical systems first before doing anything else. Failure to do so could put you in harm’s way and this is not something to make light of. Many people have died because of accidental electrocution so do not let it happen to you or anyone in your family. Shutdown power sources immediately when there is flooding.

3. Chemical Poisoning
Combustion fumes such as power generators and gas stoves give off carbon monoxide that when taken in high levels, could be fatal. Always keep combustion devices outdoors to be safe. Also, materials that contain lead and asbestos such as vinyl floor tiles and sheets, steam pipes, coal furnaces, and old insulation materials should be kept out because if you get exposed to them, you could suffer from poisoning and even develop cancer. Cleaners and disinfectants also contain harmful chemicals, which is why it is always recommended to wear masks, gloves, and goggles when cleaning.
If possible, enlist the help of family members but do not allow young ones to join. Have every helper wear safety clothes, complete with masks and gloves just to be sure nobody gets sick from the cleanup. Flooding cleanup is not easy, and you would need to spend days just to finish everything. But always remember to be thorough no matter how exhausting this will be; this is to ensure that every member of your family is safe from any health risks.

Millions of dollars are sure to go out with these businesses and the feeling is currently being compared to what New Orleans must have gone through when Hurricane Katrina passed. President Obama has already issued a declaration of emergency for Rhode Island and sent government aid for its relief. The government agency of Emergency Management shall be in charge of organizing the efforts overall. In Coventry, Rhode Island, hundreds of people were evacuated because state officials felt that one of the bridges upstream would collapse because of the flooding and end up washing into their houses downriver. Even Stonington, Connecticut – the coastal town that lies on the border of Rhode Island – was significantly cut off because two out of three of their bridges gave out. Another bridge also went out in Freetown, Massachusetts and isolated around a thousand residents at the time. As for the waters that didn’t isolate people, they had people get sent to different shelters instead. And as for the people who remained behind, they still remained shell-shocked after the worst of the events had passed. In Cranston, a sewer pump station went out and a hundred people had to be evacuated. This turned various homes into lakes and flooded basements with still-rising water of six feet. How they plan on paying for things to fix is still a mystery after this natural disaster and a lot of people remain worried because of it. Thankfully, the rain ended up subsiding to a drizzle and then stopping as the floodwaters started to recede. However, New England authorities still warned that most of the water could stick around for days, which it did. All that is left now is to pray.

Flooding began around June 8, 2008 and ending in most parts by July 1, 2008. Cedar Rapids and Iowa City were cities that had experienced the most damages. Less damage was accumulated for Iowa City then that was expected, but Cedar Rapids had received more damages than what was anticipated. Areas that first experienced flooding were in Decorah on Monday June 9, 2008 after a small levee was broke from waters in the Upper Iowa River. These waters threatened sanitary systems which implied a “please don’t flush” order. Spillville and Fort Atkinson experience intense flooding from the flooding Turkey River. The one year old bridge carrying the Iowa Highway 24 was swept away from powerful flood waters. The Iowa River caused severe flooding to Iowa City and Coralville. Flooded waters had risen intensively to call for people to prepare for evacuation. Sixteen of the University of Iowa’s building had been flooded. Time was on the campuses side as they were able to save important books and art from its building before flood waters had became too intense. Amongst major building that had been damaged by flooding are the Paramount Theater, African American Culture Center Museum, National Czech and Slovak Museum, Helen G. Nassif YMCA building, and the Mother Mosque of America. On the Mississippi river locks 13 through 25 were closed making the inaccessible to commercial traffic. In the city of Burlington the flood waters had posed some a threat that the annual music festival had to be closed three days early. Several streets had to be shut down due to rising flood waters. In spite of all the flooding and damages Burlington’s newspapers The Hawk-Eye still remained in operation. Health concerns rose as polluted waters overwhelmed sanitary systems, petroleum products and other toxic materials. Hot and humid summers were expected mosquitoes to be very bad. The higher amounts of mosquitoes can increase the risk of the West Nile Virus to spread. With flood waters carrying infectious debris free tetanus shots were being offered in many areas.

Flooding can be a very scary thing. Anyone who lives in a flood prone area can undoubtedly tell stories about being forced to watch the water rise and knowing that there’s nothing to be done about it. Even if one’s home floods from a simple leak in a water pipe, the damage can be costly. Every homeowner should take steps to ensure that flood damage is kept to a minimum, even if one believes that the possibility is remote.

Door Barriers:

One of the weakest parts of any house when it comes to flooding is the doors. This is often the first point of entry. Door barriers typically attach to the outside of the door and provide coverage above the projected flood line. They can be custom made to fit the look of the home so there’s no need to remove them at all.

Flood Barrier Windows:

This is another weak spot in most homes. Unlike doors, the main danger here is not from leaks but rather from the entire window caving in under pressure if the water level rises too high. One doesn’t even want to imagine the amount of flood damage this can cause. There are specially designed windows in which the glass will flex as opposed to shattering.

Sump Pumps:

If the home comes with a basement then one of these should always be kept handy. There doesn’t have to be a great, big flood outside for the basement to start filling up, especially in older houses where the basement hasn’t been made waterproof. The last thing one wants to have to deal with is water damage to the foundation of one’s home. It’s best to also have an alternative power source, just in case the weather conditions lead to outages.

Back Flow Valves:

This is typically placed on sewer lines and does it really need to be explained? Well alright. If the ground becomes saturated it is possible for water to get into the sewage lines. Depending on the amount, this can cause a back up into the home. It might cost some money to have this installed but think about the potential alternative.

These are all methods to help mitigate the effects of flood damage, but it’s nearly impossible to stop it completely. If there’s just a slight back up of water then the homeowner might be able to tackle the cleaning up themselves, with the aid of a mop and bucket of course. A lot of flood damage though will most likely require the services of a restoration company. Most times one can be accessed through the insurance company, providing one was smart enough to pay for flood insurance.