Flooding Can Happen Anywhere

By: Nora Rhoades, Family and Youth Development Agent


Whether it’s the basement, the highway or the community, flooding can happen anywhere. Sometimes you can anticipate flooding as you’re watching the rain fall in sheets from the living room window. But what if you’re on the way home from work or picking up the children from school?

“We can’t be 100 percent prepared for every emergency, but we can take actions now that can get things back to normal more quickly when disasters do happen,” said Nora Rhoades, Family and Youth Development Agent with the K-State Research and Extension Post Rock District.  

Flood in Manhattan, KS - May 4, 2015

Flash floods are the No. 1 cause of weather-related deaths in the United States, according to FEMA.

“Flooding is fresh on the minds of many people in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska,” said FEMA Region VII Administrator Beth Freeman in a Sept. 2 news release. “With so much flooding during the past few months, it’s a good time to consider the true risk. This month, this week, today, we hope everyone will take action to develop and practice a family emergency communication plan for hazards like flooding.”

This year, the FEMA preparedness month theme is “Don’t wait. Communicate. Make your emergency plan today.”

“It’s better to have a plan about how you and your family will handle situations ahead of time, rather than be caught in the disaster having never talked about what to do,” Rhoades explained. “Now is the best time to build or restock your emergency preparedness kit, including a flashlight, batteries, cash and first aid supplies. Keep in mind, text messages and social media are sometimes better ways to communicate during an emergency when phone lines are tied up or not working.”

If flooding is occurring on the roads you are traveling, there are a few important things to keep in mind.

• Turn around, don’t drown!
• Avoid walking or driving through floodwaters. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you off your feet and 2 feet of water can sweep your vehicle away.
• Avoid camping or parking along streams, rivers and creeks during heavy rainfall. These areas can flood quickly with little warning.

Prepare Kansas, a K-State Research and Extension program, is designed to educate and help individuals and families prepare for all kinds of emergencies, including floods. The Prepare Kansas blog https://blogs.k-state.edu/preparekansas/, is available any time of year for tips to help mitigate the effects of disasters for you, your family and your workplace.

For resources to assist with disaster preparedness visit your local extension office in Beloit, Mankato, Lincoln, Osborne, and Smith Center. You can also contact Nora Rhoades at nrhoades@ksu.edu or 785-346-2521.