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Florida Division of Emergency Management Promotes 2024 Flood Safety Preparedness and Awareness Week

TALLAHSSEE, FL. – This week, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (Division) is promoting the importance of flood safety and awareness for Flood Safety Week. Flooding is one of Florida's most frequent year-round hazards and can impact residents on either coast reaching far inland. The Division encourages all Floridians to Know Your Zone, and make a plan for where to go and what to do should a flood threaten their community.

“Flooding can happen during any time of the year, and with little to no warning, which is why emergency alerts are critical to staying safe,” said Division Executive Director Kevin Guthrie. “During Flood Safety Preparedness and Awareness Week, I encourage all residents and visitors to determine their zone at FloridaDisaster.org/Know, and then make a plan of action in case a flood threatens their community.”

Florida can experience five types of flooding including flash flooding and urban flooding from an afternoon thunderstorm, riverine flooding from excess rainfall runoff, coastal flooding prompted by sea conditions and weather events, and widespread areal flooding from copious amounts of rainfall due to a tropical system. Several factors contribute to flooding. The two key elements are rainfall intensity and duration. Intensity is the rate of rainfall, and duration is how long the rain lasts. This is why the risk of flooding is a year-round consideration. Make sure you know if your home resides within a flood zone so you understand your risk by visiting FloridaDisaster.org/Know.

Flood Safety Tips:

Before a flood reaches your area:

  • Know if your home is in a flood zone.
  • Develop a flood emergency action plan and create a disaster supply kit that can be carried in a waterproof container.
  • Evacuate immediately, if advised to do so. Bring important documents with you.
  • Move to higher ground if a flood warning is issued in your area.
  • Keep abreast of road conditions through the news media.

During a flood:

  • Never walk, drive, or swim through flooded roadways. Nearly half of all people killed in floods are those who try driving through flooded areas. Turn around, don’t drown!
  • Do not drive around barricades, they are there for your protection.
  • If your vehicle stalls, leave it immediately. Just six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars and can cause loss of control and stalling, and one foot of water can float vehicles away.
  • If you are trapped in your car in rapidly moving water, stay inside. If the water begins rising inside the vehicle, consider getting on the roof.
  • If you are trapped in a building, move to higher ground or a higher floor.

After a flood:

  • Do not visit disaster areas or buildings that remain in flood waters - your presence may hamper emergency operations.
  • Throw out food that has come into contact with the floodwater and follow all boil water notices if issued by your local officials.
  • Do not handle live electrical equipment in wet areas.
  • If the power is out, use flashlights to examine buildings as flammable items may be inside.
  • Report broken utilities to the correct authorities.

Visit FloridaDisaster.org/Hazards/Floods to learn more about flood safety and protecting yourself before, during, and after a flood.

To sign up for emergency alerts, visit FloridaDisaster.org/AlertFlorida.

For weather updates and safety tips, follow the Division on Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) @FLSERT.

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