Back to Hourly Forecast
Be Prepared For Floods!
July 30, 2025 at 05:28 AM EDT
By WeatherBug Meteorologist, Christian Sayles
Don’t become flooded with worry, be prepared for flooding instead! Heavy downpours can strike at a moment’s notice, and it is crucial to have a plan in place in case the floodgates open.
Typically, a heavy rainstorm or severe weather will be forecasted well before the event takes place. The following are a few things you can do to stay safe in case floodwaters rise up in your neighborhood:
- Communicate- Make strides to alert your family and neighbors when threatening weather is on the horizon. In fact, have a plan in place for where people should gather in the event of a power outage should disaster strike.
- Emergency Kit- Speaking of planning, an emergency kit will always be a resourceful tool should conditions turn dangerous. A simple kit that includes plenty of water, non-perishable food and any medicine that will last three or more days. If you want to go the extra mile, pack fresh batteries and chargers, blankets, flashlights, first aid kits, rubber boots and gloves, and a satellite radio such as a NOAA-certified one as well.
- Risk Level- It’s never a bad idea to consider your risks depending on where you live and what is near your location. Is your home or business located near a river or a lake? Do you notice any consistent ponding or flooding on your commutes? Do you know a safe, elevated location in the event of a flood? Just knowing the answer to these questions could potentially save your life.
- Alerts- Have a way to receive alerts about your local weather and water conditions such as downloading the WeatherBug app. This is especially important for those that are located near bodies of water.
- Safeguard Your Home- Make sure you have sandbags or any other materials that you can use to block water from entering your home. Also, have a licensed professional to come and inspect your home’s plumbing such as your sump pump, if applicable, and have a backup plan for pumping water out of your home. Also, check and see if your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance covers flooding as most coverage requires an additional fee for this.
- Check Your Devices- Emergencies can happen at a moment’s notice, so it is best to make sure your devices are fully charged before leaving your home. This is especially true for when threatening weather is afoot.
- Evacuate- If all else fails and you know your home will be become flooded, it is best to have an evacuation plan. Make sure any pets that you have are included in your plans and have a place to go, especially if a mandatory evacuation plan is in place. If you wait too long to evacuate, it may become difficult, dangerous, or even impossible to leave.
If the event is threatening enough, a watch and/or warning will be issued for your location. Should this occur, you should make sure to know what these individual terms entail. A watch means that conditions are favorable for dangerous weather conditions are you should have a plan in place just in case. However, a warning means that dangerous weather conditions are imminent, and you need to act fast to prevent harm or even potentially death. Remember, “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!”
Source: NOAA, NWS
(Image provided by Pixabay.com)