Flood Safety Awareness Week in Wisconsin

Prepare

Prepare Yourself and Your Family

• Monitor weather forecasts for heavy rain potential
• Have a communications plan for your family and a place to meet in higher ground.
• Know a safe way to enter and exit your home and neighborhood and avoid any roads susceptible to flooding
• Get a NOAA Weather Radio to be alerted to flash flood warnings and river flood warnings. Tune in to multiple sources of weather information during heavy rain and storms.
• Build an emergency kit with food, water, cash, medications, and a charged power source.
• Make sure wireless emergency alerts are enabled on your phone

Prepare Your Home

• Consider flood insurance, regardless of your location, but especially if you are in a flood prone area.
  • Most insurance policies do not cover flooding. Once purchased, it may require 30 days to take effect.
  • Consult your insurance agent or floodsmart.gov
• Make sure your sump pump is working and consider a battery backup, in case power is out
• Have a professional install check-values to prevent floodwaters from backing up into the drains and sewer line of your home
• Keep important documents or valuables in a waterproof, elevated container, that is not in the basement
• Elevate or flood-proof your washer, dry, water heater, and HVAC systems. Raise electrical outlets.
• Remove snow from roof, downspout area, and away from base of home. Clean gutters and downspouts, cover window wells, improve grading around your house, and repair cracks in your foundation.
• Secure outdoor belongings and finish any outdoor projects that may be affected by heavy rain or flood waters
• More preparedness information on the NWS Flood Safety Site

Know Your Flood Risk

• Consult FEMA flood maps to assess your underlying risk
• But note that flooding can occur anywhere and anytime of the year And every area has a risk if weather conditions allow

Staying Safe

Turn Around, Don't Drown  - Never drive through flooded roads

https://youtu.be/uptd0ny-8v0

• You do not know how deep the water is or if the road has been washed out
• You may damage or destroy your vehicle
• You put yourself, your family and first responders at risk
• You may be stranded for many hours

• Never go into flood waters. They can be dirty with bacteria, chemicals, sharp objects, or downed power lines.
• Stay tuned to weather forecasts.
• Make sure wireless emergency alerts are enabled on your phone

Flood Statistics

The majority (81%) of Wisconsin flood related flood fatalities occur when people go to flooded areas.

Nationally, over 50% of flood fatalities vehicle related.

Data from 2010-2023

Historical floods in Wisconsin

Flood Forecast Information

NWS River Forecasts

Additional river observations available from the USGS

Rainfall and Flood Outlooks

5 Day Excessive Rainfall Outlook - Note risk can change as a storm is unfolding and this outlook can become outdated

Flood Product Definitions (Short Fused, Minutes to Hours ahead of Flooding)