Emergency Alerts

As parents, we all probably worry a little too much. This series of articles is designed to help you worry a little less. If you spend time preparing your family for unpredictable weather, it won't be nearly as much of a disaster when the unthinkable actually happens. Today we're discussing what to do in case of heavy rains and flooding.

When flooding or heavy rains are a possibility in your area, local weather stations will broadcast warnings and areas to avoid. Be sure to stay on top of the expected weather conditions, especially before you plan outdoor family trips. Most cell phones are also capable of receiving emergency alerts in the case of impending severe weather; enabling these alerts will ensure your ability to respond to a weather situation before it becomes an emergency.

If you can, stay indoors during heavy rains and be prepared to evacuate your home if need be. Avoid low-laying areas, both when you're walking and when you're driving. Flash flooding can start suddenly, and can be devastating to people, vehicles, and personal property. Know where all members of your family are, and make sure that everyone knows what to do in case an emergency hits when they aren't at home.

Plan to have at least 3 days worth of food and water on hand. For food, you can plan on keeping (and regularly rotating) non-perishable food items in your pantry, or you may consider a survival food package that has a long shelf life, such as this one that is shelf stable for 20 years and contains 307 servings of food. For water, plan on having 1 gallon for every person in your home for at least 3 days. In addition, a water filtration system is helpful in case there is plenty of water (such as in flooding conditions) but it's undrinkable. The Lifestraw filters without chemical tablets and filters up to 1000 liters of water when you need