Reduce Your Flood Risk

Easy First Steps to Prepare for Potential Flooding

• Get a NOAA Weather Radio
• Create a Family Emergency Plan
• Build an Emergency Supply Kit
• Emergency Supply Kit Checklist

Community Evacuation Plan

Many communities have emergency evacuation plans, especially those with levees. Be aware of your local emergency evacuation plan. Contact your county emergency manager to find out more about the plan.

• Example - The City of Muscatine's Evacuation Plan
• County Emergency Manager Contacts

Understanding the Evacuation Process

• Ready.gov: Evacuating your Family
• Preparing to Evacuate your Farm

Flood Insurance

Flood Insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is the primary method of managing financial flood risk.

• FloodSmart.gov
• The Value of Flood Insurance
• Iowa DNR: National Flood Insurance Program
• What does Flood Insurance Cover?

Reducing Flood Risk for Individuals

• FEMA: How to Reduce Damage from Future Storms
• Flood Risk Adaptive measures and Flood Proofing Information
• FEMA: Mitigate Flood Risk - Best Practices
• Protecting Building Utilities from Flood Damage

Flood Prep Resources

• FEMA: Protect your Home from Flooding
• Managing Septic Systems
• Maintaining Safe Drinking Water in Private Drinking Wells

Preparing for a Flood

• CDC: Preparing for Floods
• Ready Iowa: Build an Emergency Kit
• Ready.gov: Basic Emergency Supply Kit Checklist

Flood Fighting: How to Use Sandbags

• USACE: Sandbagging Techniques
• USACE: Sandbagging Video

Volunteering

• Volunteer Iowa: Register as a Disaster Volunteer
• Volunteer through Iowa Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

How to Prepare Your Home

There are steps that can be taken to minimize the damages caused to a home by a flood.

• Preparation Before a Flood
• CDC: Get Ready for a Flood
• Ready.gov: Are you Ready? Guide
• Sump Pump Q&A

Reducing Flood Risk for Communities

Federal and state agencies provide a number of programs and authorities to assist communities in better understanding and responding to their communities flood risk.

• FEMA: Federal Flood Risk Management Standard
• HSEM: Hazard Mitigation Program
• HSEM: Flood Mitigation Assistance
• USACE: Continuing Authorities Program
• FEMA: Hazard Mitigation Program
• USGS: Cooperative Matching Funds
• USDA/NRCS: Programs & Initiatives
• Conservation Districts of Iowa

Reducing Flood Risk for Businesses

• Red Cross: Preparing Employees & Workplaces for Emergencies
• Ready.gov: Preparedness Planning for Businesses

Preparing for Elderly, Children & Pets

Children

• Red Cross
• Ready.gov

Seniors

• Red Cross
• Ready.gov

Disabilities

• Red Cross
• Ready.gov

Pets

• Red Cross
• Ready.gov

How to Stay Informed

Tips on Getting SmartPhone Alerts

• iOS
• Android
• Emergency Alert System
• NOAA - National Water Prediction Service
• USGS - Water Alert service sends e-mail or text (SMS) messages when parameters measured at a USGS real-time gage exceeds user-defined thresholds.
• NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information.

State and Federal Government Agencies

In the event of a national threat, information is provided on the websites of numerous agencies.

• Iowa Dept. of Homeland Security & Emergency Management
• Iowa Department of Natural Resources
• USACE Omaha District
• USGS - Central Midwest Water Science Center
• NWS - Des Moines, Iowa

Get Involved

• Ready Iowa: Get Involved in your Community
• Ready.gov: Get Involved
• Volunteer Iowa: Register as a Disaster Volunteer
• Volunteer through Iowa Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
• Contact Elected Officials & Help Shape Voting Decisions