Floods are responsible for tremendous amounts of damage. Amounting to billions of dollars in damage and accounting for thousands of deaths annually, floods caused by Mother Nature, a faulty dam, or even overflowing bodies of water are life threatening and are not to be taken lightly.

Upon hearing of evacuation warnings by city officials, the radio, or news, the single most important thing you can do is run. Get out and get out as fast as you can. The clock is ticking and timing is everything in this battle against water and people. When officials say that you should evacuate, then evacuate as soon as you can. Delaying because you think the floodwater will not be that bad is wrong and dangerous thinking. The only time you can delay is when you clearly know that the imminent danger is nowhere near your area.

The first thing you will need to do is prepare your house for the water. Multiple story homes have an advantage because any items on the first floor can be brought to the upstairs. If your home does not have an upstairs floor, then stick what you can into your attic. Using the kitchen counter tops, shelves, or other high areas of your home to put your items in can help save them. Make sure you turn off your electricity and your utilities prior to leaving the property. Turning them off now means you will not have to attempt at turning them off when you return to your house after the flooding, which could pose a danger.

Gather all of your important documents, such as your social security card, marriage or divorce certificates, birth certificates, property deeds, and other paperwork. Collect enough clothing and toiletries to last a few days. Pack non-perishable foods and as many gallons of water as possible. You will also need to bring a flashlight and a first-aid kit. It would also be a very good idea to think ahead and buy an outdoor survival kit of some sort that includes a thermal blanket, candles and matches, packets of emergency drinking water, a cold pack, etc., for times such as these.

In the event that you do get stuck and are surrounded by moving water, then there are a couple things you need to do prior to just stepping into the water and possibly getting swept away. If you are in your vehicle and the water is moving at a great speed, then you might need to leave behind your car lest the both of you start to drift away. Moving water is capable of carrying away a SUV if it is just a few inches high.

If you are on foot, then use a cane or a long stick to poke the area in front of where you want to walk to check the stability of the ground. Even the end of an umbrella will work just fine. Sometimes, you will come across dirt areas that have been severely muddied by the water and will be very unsafe to trek across safely.