Flood Safety Tips for Dallas-Fort Worth
Floods in Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington, Texas
Flood Safety Tips for Dallas Fort Worth Meroplex
A flood is an overflow of water on land that is normally dry. Floods are tremendous natural disasters that can have devastating effects on people and the local economy in Dallas-Fort Worth, as we have seen during the recent floods in September 2010 in Arlington, Texas. Loss of life is the worst consequence of flood damage, but others include loss of home, loss of livelihood, structural water damage to property, basement flooding, crawl space and more.
Flooding along the Trinity River in Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington
During tropical storm Hermine, there was widespread flooding in north Texas, especially in Arlington, where floodwater was moving so fast and with such force, it had uprooted trees and swept away vehicles and other items on its path. At Six Flags amusement park in Arlington, Texas the extent of water damage surprised residents. There were numerous high water rescues all over north Texas, from Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington to Denton and further north.
The Trinity River, flowing entirely in the state of Texas consists of four branches and is a common flooding area during rainstorms. The Trinity River’s West Fork flows east through the city of Fort Worth. The Clear Fork flows southeast and then northeast to join the West Fork near downtown Fort Worth and continues as the West Fork. The Elm Fork flows east of Denton. Both West Fork and Elm Fork join to enter Dallas, thus forming the Trinity River. The East Fork begins close to McKinney, Texas and merges with the Trinity River southeast of Dallas. From Dallas, the Trinity River flows south through the state of Texas. This 710–mile long Trinity River has many opportunities to cause flooding throughout its path, given the right weather conditions.
Flood Safety Tips – How to Prepare for Floods in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas?
Flood damage preparedness means planning for the best, but preparing for the worst. Flood safety tips are useful in times of flooding in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas and elsewhere, so take the necessary precautions for yourself and your family. Flood preparedness begins well ahead of a flood and includes anticipation of the natural disaster and preparation for what might happen. The following are flood safety tips of how to prepare for floods in Dallas Fort Worth.
Flood Safety Tips or Pre-Flood Preparedness
- Know the best route from home or work to a secure high ground in case of flooding in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
- Put together an escape plan for all family members to follow in case of a flooding emergency.
- Agree on a family meeting place in case of separation during a flood.
- Determine what to do with your family pets in case of flooding. Make arrangements for them before flooding occurs.
- Make a list of valuables and keep it in a place that would not be affected by a potential flood.
- Keep important documents, such as passports, driver licenses, birth certificates, insurance paperwork, banking documents, etc. in one place that is easily accessible and can be collected and taken with you quickly in case of a flooding emergency.
- Prepare a supply of drinking water in closed, clean, plastic containers, not glass jars. Make sure you have at least one gallon of water per person per day.
- Make sure you have at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food that doesn’t need refrigeration or cooking and is compact and lightweight, such as: canned and ready to eat meat, fruit and vegetables, canned juices, trail mix, peanut butter, crackers, energy bars, etc.
- Prepare two first aid kits, one for your home and one for the car and include both prescription and non-prescription medication for you and your family members.
- Buy flashlights, a portable battery operated radio and batteries.
- Make sure your car gas tank is full and store a car emergency kit in the trunk.
Flood Emergency – Flood Safety Tips
- Throughout the flood, listen to local official flood information on your radio for news and instructions about the emergency
flooding situation and act accordingly.
- Comply with flood evacuation instructions and orders from authorized personnel.
Secure Your Dallas-Fort Worth Home
- Close and lock doors and windows.
- Plug drains.
- Turn off water at the water meter.
- Make sure sump pumps are plugged in.
Flood Safet Tips – Post Flood Information for Dallas-Fort Worth
- Continue to monitor local Dallas-Fort Worth media information and heed instructions from local officials.
- Do not enter any Dallas-Fort Worth Area or building that has not been confirmed safe to enter.
- Prior to entering any Dallas Area building or home, make sure it is structurally sound.
- Turn off main power switch and shut down gas lines at the meter, if safe to do so.
- Air out the home to make sure there is no trapped gas inside.
- When entering your flooded Dallas home, use a flashlight and not a candle or another open flame light source as flammable gas inside a confined space may cause an explosion.
- Use rubber gloves and wear rubber boots, when checking your Dallas-Fort Worth home following a flood.
- Let a professional electrician inspect your appliances before operating them.
- Let a professional Dallas-Fort Worth water damage restoration company inspect your flooded home, basement and crawl space for any water damage and possible mold damage. If your basement is flooded, a water removal expert will know what safe procedure to use in order to drain the water gradually, without causing further structural damage.
- If you cannot get a hold of a Dallas professional water damage restoration company, drain your water flooded basement gradually, less than a third of the volume each day to prevent damage to your flooded property.
- If public Dallas municipality water is not safe to drink, boil it before using. If water is cloudy, filter it through a clean cloth and then boil. If boiling the water is not possible, treat it with iodine (5 drops of 2% iodine per quart of water, or 10 drops for cloudy water) that is available at pharmacies. After filtering it, let stand for about 30 minutes before using. You may use 1/8 teaspoon household bleach per gallon of water if you do not have iodine.
- Discard any food or medication contaminated with flood water.
Floods in Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington, Texas
Flood Safety Tips for Dallas Fort Worth Meroplex
A flood is an overflow of water on land that is normally dry. Floods are tremendous natural disasters that can have devastating effects on people and the local economy in Dallas-Fort Worth, as we have seen during the recent floods in September 2010 in Arlington, Texas. Loss of life is the worst consequence of flood damage, but others include loss of home, loss of livelihood, structural water damage to property, basement flooding, crawl space and more.
Flooding along the Trinity River in Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington
During tropical storm Hermine, there was widespread flooding in north Texas, especially in Arlington, where floodwater was moving so fast and with such force, it had uprooted trees and swept away vehicles and other items on its path. At Six Flags amusement park in Arlington, Texas the extent of water damage surprised residents. There were numerous high water rescues all over north Texas, from Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington to Denton and further north.
The Trinity River, flowing entirely in the state of Texas consists of four branches and is a common flooding area during rainstorms. The Trinity River’s West Fork flows east through the city of Fort Worth. The Clear Fork flows southeast and then northeast to join the West Fork near downtown Fort Worth and continues as the West Fork. The Elm Fork flows east of Denton. Both West Fork and Elm Fork join to enter Dallas, thus forming the Trinity River. The East Fork begins close to McKinney, Texas and merges with the Trinity River southeast of Dallas. From Dallas, the Trinity River flows south through the state of Texas. This 710–mile long Trinity River has many opportunities to cause flooding throughout its path, given the right weather conditions.
Flood Safety Tips – How to Prepare for Floods in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas?
Flood damage preparedness means planning for the best, but preparing for the worst. Flood safety tips are useful in times of flooding in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas and elsewhere, so take the necessary precautions for yourself and your family. Flood preparedness begins well ahead of a flood and includes anticipation of the natural disaster and preparation for what might happen. The following are flood safety tips of how to prepare for floods in Dallas Fort Worth.
Flood Safety Tips or Pre-Flood Preparedness
- Know the best route from home or work to a secure high ground in case of flooding in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
- Put together an escape plan for all family members to follow in case of a flooding emergency.
- Agree on a family meeting place in case of separation during a flood.
- Determine what to do with your family pets in case of flooding. Make arrangements for them before flooding occurs.
- Make a list of valuables and keep it in a place that would not be affected by a potential flood.
- Keep important documents, such as passports, driver licenses, birth certificates, insurance paperwork, banking documents, etc. in one place that is easily accessible and can be collected and taken with you quickly in case of a flooding emergency.
- Prepare a supply of drinking water in closed, clean, plastic containers, not glass jars. Make sure you have at least one gallon of water per person per day.
- Make sure you have at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food that doesn’t need refrigeration or cooking and is compact and lightweight, such as: canned and ready to eat meat, fruit and vegetables, canned juices, trail mix, peanut butter, crackers, energy bars, etc.
- Prepare two first aid kits, one for your home and one for the car and include both prescription and non-prescription medication for you and your family members.
- Buy flashlights, a portable battery operated radio and batteries.
- Make sure your car gas tank is full and store a car emergency kit in the trunk.
Flood Emergency – Flood Safety Tips
- Throughout the flood, listen to local official flood information on your radio for news and instructions about the emergency
flooding situation and act accordingly. - Comply with flood evacuation instructions and orders from authorized personnel.
Secure Your Dallas-Fort Worth Home
- Close and lock doors and windows.
- Plug drains.
- Turn off water at the water meter.
- Make sure sump pumps are plugged in.
Flood Safet Tips – Post Flood Information for Dallas-Fort Worth
- Continue to monitor local Dallas-Fort Worth media information and heed instructions from local officials.
- Do not enter any Dallas-Fort Worth Area or building that has not been confirmed safe to enter.
- Prior to entering any Dallas Area building or home, make sure it is structurally sound.
- Turn off main power switch and shut down gas lines at the meter, if safe to do so.
- Air out the home to make sure there is no trapped gas inside.
- When entering your flooded Dallas home, use a flashlight and not a candle or another open flame light source as flammable gas inside a confined space may cause an explosion.
- Use rubber gloves and wear rubber boots, when checking your Dallas-Fort Worth home following a flood.
- Let a professional electrician inspect your appliances before operating them.
- Let a professional Dallas-Fort Worth water damage restoration company inspect your flooded home, basement and crawl space for any water damage and possible mold damage. If your basement is flooded, a water removal expert will know what safe procedure to use in order to drain the water gradually, without causing further structural damage.
- If you cannot get a hold of a Dallas professional water damage restoration company, drain your water flooded basement gradually, less than a third of the volume each day to prevent damage to your flooded property.
- If public Dallas municipality water is not safe to drink, boil it before using. If water is cloudy, filter it through a clean cloth and then boil. If boiling the water is not possible, treat it with iodine (5 drops of 2% iodine per quart of water, or 10 drops for cloudy water) that is available at pharmacies. After filtering it, let stand for about 30 minutes before using. You may use 1/8 teaspoon household bleach per gallon of water if you do not have iodine.
- Discard any food or medication contaminated with flood water.
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