The St. Louis area and many counties across Missouri have once again been deluged with rain and subsequent rising river levels. As the rain continues over the next few days, please be aware that flash floods are the number one cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S. Take a minute to review these flood safety tips, so you can stay safe and dry.
During heavy rains when there is potential for flooding:
- Avoid walking or driving through flood waters. Remember: Turn Around, Don’t Drown! ®
- Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and 1 foot of water can sweep your vehicle away.
- If there is a chance of flash flooding, move immediately to higher ground.
- If floodwaters rise around your car but the water is not moving, abandon the car and move to higher ground.
- Never try to walk or swim through flowing water.
- Avoid camping or parking along streams, rivers, and creeks during heavy rainfall. These areas can flood quickly and with little warning.
- Never allow children to play around high water, storm drains, creeks or rivers.
After the flood:
- Return home only when authorities say it is safe.
- Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded and watch out for debris. Floodwaters often erode roads and walkways.
- Do not attempt to drive through areas that are still flooded.
- Avoid standing water as it may be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines.
- Flood water contains potentially dangerous materials, such as fecal matter from overflowing sewage systems, agricultural runoff and chemicals from industrial areas. Wading in flood waters can cause infections and other serious health risks.
- Floods can potentially increase the transmission of the following communicable diseases:
- Water-borne diseases, such as typhoid fever, cholera, leptospirosis and hepatitis.
- Vector-borne diseases, such as malaria, dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever, yellow fever, and West Nile Fever.
- Photograph damage to your property for insurance purposes.
- Always have representatives from the utility companies inspect repairs before restoring electric and gas connections to a home or business.
Before the flood:
- Know your flood risk.
- Make a flood emergency plan.
- Build or restock your emergency preparedness kit, including a flashlight, batteries, cash, and first aid supplies.
- Consider buying flood insurance.
- Familiarize yourself with local emergency plans. Know where to go and how to get there should you need to get to higher ground, the highest level of a building, or to evacuate.
- Stay tuned to your phone alerts, TV, or radio for weather updates, emergency instructions, or evacuation orders.
Click here for more flood safety information.
Casey & Devoti is a St. Louis-based personal injury law firm. Together Partners Matt Casey and Matt Devoti have nearly 40 years of trial experience in the following personal injury matters: car, truck and train accidents, victims of drunk and impaired driving, medical malpractice, birth injuries, product liability, slips and falls, elder care and sexual abuse, Workers’ Compensation, and wrongful death. If you or someone you love has been injured by the negligence of another, call us today for a free, no obligation consultation: (314) 421-0763.
