What you can do before the flood

• Know the flood risk and elevation above flood stage. If danger of flooding exists, be prepared to move to a place of safety. Know your evacuation routes. 
• Keep your automobile fueled; if electric power is cut off, gas stations may not be able to operate pumps for several days. 
• Store drinking water in clean bathtubs and in various containers. Water service may be interrupted, or your water source contaminated. 
• Keep a stock of food that requires little cooking and no refrigeration; electric power may be interrupted. 
• Keep first aid supplies on hand. 
• Keep a NOAA Weather Radio, a battery-powered portable radio, emergency cooking equipment, and flashlights in working order. 
• Install check valves in building sewer traps to prevent flood water from backing up into the drains of your home.

What your community can do before the flood

• Assist hospitals and other operations which are critically affected by power failure by arranging for auxiliary power supplies.
• River and rainfall readings are valuable to the Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) and the National Weather Service (NWS) in assessing flood conditions and taking appropriate actions. Advanced warning provided by early detection is critical to saving lives. Automatic flood detection is critical to saving lives. Automatic flood detection systems are available commercially for flood-prone communities. Contact your local NWS Office or (Emergency Preparedness Office) for futher information on "Local Flood Warning Systems."
• STAY INFORMED ABOUT THE STORM by listening to NOAA Weather Radio, Commercial Radio or Television for the latest FLASH FLOOD and FLOOD WATCHES, WARNINGS, and ADVISORIES.

What warnings to listen for before the flood

• Flash Flood Watch or Flood Watch:
  Flash flooding or flooding is possible within the designated WATCH AREA - BE ALERT. Move to higher ground. A flash flood could occur without warning. Listen to radio or television for additional information.
• Flash Flood or Flood Warning:
  Flash flooding or flooding has been reported or is imminent. Take necessary precautions at once. If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.
• Urban and Small Stream Advisory:
  Flooding of canals, small streams, streets, and low-lying areas, such as; railroad underpasses and urban storm drains is occurring.
• Flash Flood Warning or Flood Statement:
  Follow-up information regarding a flash flood/flood event.
• The rule for being safe in a flooding situation is simple:
  HEAD FOR HIGHER GROUND AND STAY AWAY FROM FLOOD WATERS!

How you can take action

• When a flash flood WATCH is issued - Be alert to the signs of flash flooding and be prepared to evacuate at a moment's notice.
• When a flash flood WARNING is issued for your area, or the moment you realize that a flash flood is imminent, act quickly to save yourself. YOU MAY HAVE ONLY SECONDS!
• GO TO HIGHER GROUND - CLIMB TO SAFETY! 
  • Get out of areas subject to flooding. This includes dips, low spots, etc. 
  • Avoid already flooded and high velocity flow areas. Do not attempt to cross flowing streams or canals. 
  • If driving, be aware that the road bed may not be intact under flood waters. Turn around and go another way. NEVER drive through flooded roadways. 
  • If your vehicle stalls, leave it immediately and seek higher ground. Rapidly rising water may engulf your vehicle and its occupants and sweep them away. Remember, it's better to be wet than dead! 
  • Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers. 
  • Do not camp or park your vehicle along streams and canals, particularly during threatening weather.

What you can do if you receive a flood warning

• If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. 
• Move to a safe area before access is cut off by flood water. 
• Continue monitoring NOAA Weather Radio, television, or emergency alert station for information.

What you can do during a flood

• Avoid areas subject to sudden flooding. 
• If you come upon a flowing stream where water is above your ankles, STOP! Turn around and go another way. 
• Do not attempt to drive over a flooded road. The depth of water is not always obvious. The road bed may be washed out under the water, and you could be stranded or trapped. 
• Children should NEVER play around high water, storm drains, or drainage canals.

What you can do after a flood

• If fresh food has come in contact with flood waters, throw it out. 
• Boil drinking water before using. Wells should be pumped out and the water tested for purity before drinking. If in doubt, call your local public health authority. 
• Seek necessary medical care at the nearest hospital. Food, clothing, shelter, and first aid may be available from the Red Cross and other volunteer groups. 
• Do not visit disaster areas. Your presence might hamper rescue and other emergency operations. 
• Electrical equipment should be checked and dried before being returned to service. 
• Use flashlights, not lanterns, torches, or matches, to examine buildings. Flammables may be inside. 
• Report broken utility lines to appropriate authorities.
• Contact your insurance agent: 
  • Take photos or videotape of your home and belongings. 
  • Separate damaged and undamaged belongings. 
  • Locate your financial records. 
  • Keep detailed records of cleanup cost.

Hurricanes and Their Destructive Forces

• Wind:
  Hurricane force winds, in some cases gusting to nearly 200 mph, can cause widespread and significant damage to many buildings. Wind gusts to nearly 150 mph destroyed many houses in South Dade County, Florida, when Hurricane Andrew moved onshore in August of 1992. Hurricane force winds can also create a deadly barrage from roofing material, metal siding, and outdoor furniture. Hurricane winds can also be damaging well inland, as evidenced in 1988, when wind gusts of 100 mph were recorded in Charlotte, N.C., as Hurricane Hugo moved inland. These strong winds toppled many trees, which fell into houses and disrupted electrical services. The rules for seeking safety from the hurricane's destructive winds are similar to those for tornado safety. These include moving to a small interior room on the lowest floor of a well- constructed house or building, which is safe from storm surge flooding. 
• Rainfall:
  Rainfall totals of 10 inches or more are not uncommon when a tropical storm or hurricane moves ashore. These heavy rains can complicate drainage problems in areas experiencing storm surge flooding. If rainfall amounts of this magnitude occur over north or central Louisiana, destructive flash flooding and river flooding can occur. In 1989, Tropical Storm Allison produced 15 to 25 inches of rain over central and northwest Louisiana causing widespread flooding. This resulted in 3 deaths and 250 million dollars in property damage. In June of 1986, rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Bonnie caused extensive flash flooding in northwest Louisiana. Over 380 homes and 20 businesses suffered damage in Shreveport.

Storm Surge: Hurricanes' Big Killer
Hurricanes are usually described in terms of their wind speeds, but flooding caused by the high water a storm brings, kills many more people than wind. Flooding is also responsible for much of the damage, especially within a few hundred yards of the shoreline. Boats ripped from their moorings, utility poles, parts of destroyed buildings, and other debris crashing in the waves atop hurricane surge, often destroy buildings that stood up to the wind. Even without the weight of debris, water is a powerfully destructive force. A cubic foot of sea water weighs 64 pounds.

Water does more than batter, it scours away the sand of beaches and dunes and can also have an inpact on barrier islands. High water and pounding waves carry away the sand under sea walls, buildings, and roads. As the water begins rising sometimes hours in advance of the storm, it erodes the beach, the dunes and undercuts buildings behind the beach.

Storm surge isn’t a killer only along beaches facing the ocean; water is also pushed into bays and rivers. As the surge of water squeezes up a narrowing bay or river, it rises even higher.

What happens when the surge comes ashore? The ultimate height of the “storm tide” is a combination of the astronomical tide and the storm surge. The surge normally does not arrive as a “wall of water,” but more like a quick rise in the tide to extremely high levels.

A 2-foot normal high tide plus a 10-foot storm surge will push the water 12 feet above mean sea level. A surge’s worst effect is to bring storm-whipped waves far inland; the battering of the waves causes far more damage than high water alone.

Hurricane protection levees have been built in many coastal communities, especially the New Orleans area, to protect life and property from storm surge. While these levees do a very good job in protecting communities during minimal hurricanes, sophisticated computer modeling of storm surge effects indicate most levees in southeast Louisiana would be overtopped from the storm surge generated by a direct strike by a major hurricane. The result would be widespread flooding.

Tropical and Hurricane Watches and Warnings

• Tropical Storm Watch
  Issued when a tropical storm or tropical storm conditions will pose a threat to coastal areas within 36 hours. A tropical storm watch will not be issued if the system is forecast to attain tropical storm strength.
• Tropical Storm Warning
  Issued when tropical storm conditions with sustained wind speeds of 39 to 73 mph are expected in the coastal areas within 24 hours.
• Hurricane Watch
  Issued for a coastal area when there is a threat of hurricane conditions within 24 to 36 hours.
• Hurricane Warnings
  Issued when hurricane conditions are expected in the coastal areas within 24 hours. Hurricane conditions include winds of 74 mph or higher, and/or dangerously high tides and waves. Action for protection of life and property should begin immediately when the warning is issued. It should be noted that some additional action may be necessary, depending on the weather system, prior to a warning being issued.

Terms used to describe tornado threats

• Tornado Watch
  Tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, or both, are possible. Stay tuned to radio and television reports in your area.
• Tornado Warning
  You should take shelter immediately; a tornado has been sighted.
• Tornado
  A strong, rotating column of air extending from the base of a cumulonimbus cloud to the ground.
• Funnel Cloud
  A rotating column of air extending from a cloud, but not reaching the ground.

What to do before a tornado strikes

1. Know the locations of designated shelter areas in public facilities; such as schools, public buildings, and shopping centers. 
2. Have emergency supplies on hand. 
3. Be sure everyone in your household knows in advance where to go and what to do in case of a tornado warning. 
4. If you live in a single-family house in a tornado-prone area, reinforce an interior room to use as a shelter, the basement, storm cellar, or a closet on the lower level of your house. 
5. Make an inventory of your household furnishings and other possessions. Supplement that with a written inventory with photographs. Keep inventories and photos in a safe deposit box or some other safe place away from the premises.

What to do during a tornado watch

1. Whenever severe thunderstorms are in your area, listen to radio and television newscasts for the latest information and instructions. 
2. Watch the horizon. If you see any revolving, funnel-shaped clouds, report them immediately by telephone to your local police department or sheriff's office, or dial 911. Remember that tornadoes can develop rapidly.

What to do during a tornado
When a tornado has been sighted, stay away from windows, doors and outside walls. Protect your head from falling objects or flying debris. Take cover immediately, wherever you are: In a house or small building, go to the basement. If there is no basement, go to an interior part of the structure on the lower level (closets, interior hallways). In either case, get under something sturdy (such as a heavy table) and stay there until the danger has passed.

Tornado safety rules for you and your family
Tornadoes are nature's most violent, and erratic storms. A tornado can travel for miles along the ground, lift, and suddenly change direction and strike again. There is little you can do to protect your home or workplace from the strength of tornado winds, but there are actions you can take to better protect yourself and your family.

One basic rule to follow wherever you are is avoid windows. An exploding window can injure or kill. Don't take the time to open windows; get to shelter immediately.

What you need to know if a thunderstorm approaches

• Remember: If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning. Go to safe shelter immediately! 
• Move to a sturdy building or car. Do not take shelter in small sheds, under isolated trees, or convertible automobiles. 
• If lightning is occurring and a sturdy shelter is not available, get inside a hard top automobile and keep windows up. 
• Get out of boats and away from water. 
• Telephone lines and metal pipes can conduct electricity. Unplug appliances not necessary for obtaining weather information. Avoid using the telephone or any electrical appliances. Use the telephone ONLY in an emergency. 
• Do not take a bath or shower. 
• Turn off air conditioners. Power surges from lightning can overload the compressors. 
• Get to higher ground if flash flooding or flooding is possible. Once flooding begins, abandon cars and climb to higher ground. Do not attempt to drive to safety. Note: Most flash flood deaths occur in automobiles.

What to do if you are caught outdoors during a thunderstorm and do not have shelter

• Find a low spot away from trees, fences, and poles. Make sure the place you pick is not subject to flooding. 
• If you are in the woods, take shelter under the shorter trees. 
• If you feel your skin tingle or your hair stand on end, squat low to the ground on the balls of your feet. Place your hands on your knees with your head between them. Make yourself the smallest target possible, and minimize your contact with the ground. 
• If you are boating or swimming, get to land and find shelter immediately!

What to listen for during a thunderstorm

• Severe Thunderstorm Watch
  Tells you when and where severe thunderstorms are most likely to occur. Watch the sky and stay tuned to know when warnings are issued. Watches are intended to heighten public awareness and should not be confused with warnings.
• Severe Thunderstorm Warning
  Issued when severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property for those in the path of the storm.
• Also listen for Tornado Watches or Warnings and Flash Flood Watches or Warnings
  NOAA WEATHER RADIO IS THE BEST MEANS TO RECEIVE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
• The National Weather Service continuously broadcasts updated weather warnings and forecasts that can be received by NOAA Weather Radios, which are sold in many stores. The average range is 40 miles, depending on topography. Your National Weather Service recommends purchasing a radio that has both a battery backup and a tone alert feature that automatically alerts you when a watch or warning is issued.

What you should NOT do during a thunderstorm

• Stand near trees, poles, overhead wire or water. 
• Touch metal objects like bikes, golf clubs or fences. 
• Plug in electrical equipment such as hair dryers or razors. 
• Use the telephone except for emergencies.

Saffir-Simpson Categories as Adapted to Louisiana

• Category 1. Minimal Damage
  No real damage by wind is caused to buildings. Some damage is done to poorly constructed signs. Some damage primarily occurs to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, trees, and foliage. Low lying roads are inundated by storm surge. Minor pier damage occurs.
• Category 2. Moderate Damage
  Roofing, doors and windows ofhomes and businesses are damaged by winds. Considerable wind damage is done tomobile homes and vegetation. Low lying roads are inundated by storm surge. Considerable damage is done by storm surge and wave action to piers. Small craft in unprotected anchorages break their moorings.
• Category 3. Extensive Damage
  Winds cause structural damage to homes and utility buildings with a minor amount of curtain wall failure. Mobile homes are destroyed. Storm surge flooding destroys many smaller buildings while large buildings are damaged by floating debris. Terrain continuously lower than 10 feet above mean sea level is flooded.
• Category 4. Extreme Damage
  More extensive curtain wall failures with some complete roof failure on homes occur. Major damage is caused to lower floors of homes and businesses from storm surge flooding. Terrain continuously lower than 15 feet above mean sea level is flooded.
• Category 5. Catastrophic Damage
  There is complete roof failure of many homes and businesses as well as complete building failure of many small structures. Major storm surge flooding to lower floors of buildings located less than 20 feet above mean sea level occurs.