How to stay prepared for a flash flood in Atlanta, GA

Flash floods are very dangerous because they happen with so little warning and if they catch you off guard, they could cause significant damage to your home.  It is important for homeowners in the Atlanta area to always be prepared for floods in case a flash flood should occur.  By taking the right steps before, during, and after a flood, you can keep your family and your home protected from significant storm damage in Atlanta.  The following is a guide for surviving flash floods.

Be Prepared: Before the Flood

Being prepared before a storm or flash flood happens is the best way to keep your home and family protected from potential damage.  Follow these tips if you live in an area prone to flooding or if a flood is imminent.

• Build a floodplain around your home only if the home is elevated and reinforced.
• Keep your furnace, water heater, and electrical panel elevated if they are in an area of your home prone to flooding.
• Installing check valves in your sewer traps can help prevent flood water from backing up in your drain.
• Building barriers such as levees, beams, and floodwalls can help prevent flood water from entering the home.
• Use waterproofing compounds to seal the foundation and basement walls.

During an Atlanta Flood

In the Atlanta area, flash floods can happen in an instant so it is important to know what to do once the flooding starts to prevent as much water damage as possible.

• Check the news for information on the storm.
• Be aware that streams, dry river beds, drainage channels, canyons, and other similar areas can flood without warning.
• If there is a possibility of a flash flood in your area, find higher ground immediately without waiting to be told.

Follow these steps if you are forced to leave:

• Make sure the home is secured and move important items to higher floors if there is time.
• Turn off utilities and disconnect electrical appliances, do not touch electrical equipment while wet or in standing water.
• Avoid walking through moving water because it can be very strong.

After the Flood: Assessing the Storm Damage

It is important to stay alert and take the appropriate actions to keep yourself and your family protected in the aftermath of a flash flood.

• Stay clear of electrical wires and down power lines because electricity travels through water.  Electrocution is the number two cause of death in floods behind drowning.
• Call the power company to turn off your electricity.  Do not use any appliances or electronics that are wet from the flood unless they have been thoroughly cleaned and dried.
• Look out for small animals that may seek shelter in your home after the flood.
• Watch your step, floods may spread dangerous debris on the ground and floor of your home or create slippery surfaces.
• Turn off the gas in your home to prevent potential fires from gas leaks.
• Do not enter your home until it has been inspected and deemed safe.

Flash floods can cause a significant amount of damage with little to no notice but if you follow these steps, you can keep your home and family protected in case one should occur.  If you live in an area prone to flash flooding, you should always be on alert and make sure that your home and family are constantly prepared. In the aftermath of a flash flood it is best to contact a professional restoration company in Atlanta to assess any damage to your home or business.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.