The Severe Weather Awareness Week Topic for Wednesday is Floods and Flash Floods. Flooding is one of the most common natural hazards in Minnesota. Seasonal snowmelt floods tend to develop slowly, while flash floods develop quickly during a heavy storm.
Having a plan in place is important says Crookston firefighter Shane Heldstab. “Before a flood, have a plan in place, contact your family, check on your neighbors,” said Heldstab. “Make sure you are aware of road and bridge closures and know alternate routes if you have to evacuate. If there is an evacuation, make sure to secure your home and stay in contact with your family.”
Additionally, consider buying flood insurance at least 30 days prior to flood season, elevate basement furnaces, water heaters, and electric panels, install check valves in sewer traps and seal basement walls.
Flash flooding and overland flooding can create dangerous situations for driving. “Don’t drive through moving water, don’t walk through it either,” said Heldstab. “It takes very little water to take a vehicle off a roadway and people can get severely injured or die in those situations. Stay in tune to the media, have a plan in place. Hopefully, this high water event will move through without any issues, but it’s always nice to be prepared.”
As few as six inches of water can cause loss of control and potentially stall a car. A foot of water will float many vehicles and two feet of rushing water will carry away most vehicles including SUVs and pickups.
Minnesota’s statewide tornado drill scheduled for Thursday has been canceled due to the impending winter storm that will hit the state on Thursday.
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