Stay Safe in a Flood

• Prepare a family emergency kit. Check out the Get a Kit  page from the CDC for tips on what to include.
• Keep your cell phone charged.
• Move important things to the upper floors of your home.
• Bring outdoor equipment like trash cans or lawn furniture inside or tie them down securely.
• Fill bathtubs, sinks and jugs with clean water. This water can be used for drinking, washing and cleaning the toilet.
• Inform local authorities about any special needs that could affect someone’s well-being in a flood, for example, a person confined to bed, or someone with a disability that affects mobility.
• Gather your emergency supplies and stay tuned to local radio or television station for updates.

In a Car

• Do not drive around barriers.
• Do not use roads that are marked as closed. Follow detours.
• Listen to public safety officials.
• Do not drive through flood water. Even water that is not deep can float a car.
• If your car stops in water, get out of the car and move to higher ground.
• If possible, avoid driving at night when it is hard to see.

At Home

• If there is water coming near your house, don’t wait – get out and move to higher ground.
• If you need to find a shelter, dial 2-1-1 on your phone to find Vermont resources near you.
• If you touch flood water, wash your hands with soap and clean hot water.
• Do not eat or drink anything that has touched flood water.

Outside

• Stay away from flood water. Water can be very deep and can rise quickly.
• Do not walk through flood water. Even water that is not deep can move quickly and be dangerous.
• Stay away from fallen electricity lines. Electricity can travel through water and hurt or kill you.
• Do not go into a home that is flooded unless you are sure that the power has been turned off.

• Know where your electrical breaker box is and turn off electrical power when there is standing water, fallen power lines, or before you evacuate.
• Know where your gas and water shutoff valves are and turn off gas and water before you evacuate.
• Fill your vehicle’s gas tank and make sure the emergency kit for your car is ready.
• Gather essential documents like medical records, insurance cards and ID cards and put in a waterproof bag or container to carry with you during evacuation.
• If you have pets, identify a shelter that will let you bring them with you.
• Tune into the radio or television for weather updates.
• Listen for disaster sirens and warning signals.
• Put livestock in a safe area.
• Turn the thermostat on refrigerators and freezers to the coldest temperature possible to help protect your food from spoiling.

• CDC’s Reentering Your Flooded Home
• CDC’s Protect Yourself and Others from Electrical Hazards After a Disaster
• After a Flood: Drinking Water Guidance

• Creating a Healthy Home – A Field Guide for Clean-up of Flooded Homes
• CDC’s Cleanup of Flood Water
• CDC’s After a Flood
• CDC’s Mold After a Disaster