Preparing for a Flood

Were you prepared for the Flood of June 9, 2010? The Guadalupe River provides us with beautiful surroundings and recreation, but it can also turn into a raging torrent within hours when heavy rainfalls combine with the steep terrain upstream. Not knowing what to do can cost your life!

Here is a good web site to track hurricanes. You can zoom in and out by using your roll function on your mouse, drag the map around and roll over one of the icons on the map and see more specific data for that location.
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www.ibiseye.com

Are you familiar with past flooding in your neighborhood? If not, talk to your long time neighbors. The flood of 1998 is the worst we have experienced since Canyon Lake was built, but an even higher flood is still possible.

Do you know how river flows in cubic feet per second (CFS) relate to flooding in your area?

The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) has prepared and recently updated the Interim Flood Preparedness Plan and a flood guide, Staying Safe. These can be downloaded HERE or go by GBRA at 933 East Court Street in Seguin to pick up printed copies. These contain critical information to help you safeguard your property and your family. More information is available by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.

You must personally determine when safety precautions and even evacuations are necessary for you at your individual location.

We strongly recommend that all waterfront property owners and all who are affected by high water events use multiple means of communication to keep themselves informed. These multiple sources of information include:

Don�t depend on just one source of information�use multiple sources. The worst thing you can do is call police and fire departments, GBRA and other groups which are monitoring and providing emergency services during disasters. You will tie up their telephones and manpower, slowing down their response to those who are in immediate need of emergency assistance.

Another little known fact is that many cell phone towers are not backed up by battery power. This means that if power fails in an area, cell phone reception may also be down.

Have a high water evacuation plan in place with your family. Predetermine a meeting location should you be separated in an emergency. Don�t forget your pets need a shelter also.

Recent floods and tornadoes in the Mid-West and South remind us that disasters can strike at any time. We have had our share of flooding along the Guadalupe River and probably will again in the future. While our flood events are not near the scale of what has taken place elsewhere, it can be just a devastating for individuals directly affected. Here are some tips to dealing with disasters mentally after they strike:

Things to remember when trying to understand disaster events

* No one who sees a disaster is untouched by it.

* It is normal to feel anxious about you and your family's safety.

* Profound sadness, grief and anger are normal reactions to an abnormal event.

* Acknowledging your feelings helps you recover.

* Focusing on your strengths and abilities will help you to heal.

* Accepting help from community programs and resources is healthy.

* We each have different needs and different ways of coping.

* It is common to want to strike back at people who have caused great pain. However, nothing good is accomplished by hateful language or actions.

Ways to ease the stress

* Talk with someone about your feelings-anger, sorrow and other emotions-even though it may be difficult.

* Don't hold yourself responsible for the disastrous event or be frustrated because you feel that you cannot help directly in the rescue work.

* Take steps to promote your own physical and emotional healing by staying active in your daily life patterns or by adjusting them. This healthy outlook will help yourself and your family. (i.e., healthy eating, rest, exercise, relaxation, meditation.)

* Maintain a normal household and daily routine, limiting demanding responsibilities of yourself and your family.

* Spend time with family and friends.

* Participate in memorials, rituals and use of symbols as a way to express feelings.

* Use existing support groups of family, friends and church.

* Establish a family emergency plan. Feeling that there is something that you can do can be very comforting.

Source: The Center for Mental Health Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

For more information check out This Link.

Flood Preparedness

How Does The Flood of 2010 Compare?