Be prepared not scared: How to protect your home from flooding

RACINE COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Flood Safety Awareness Week is March 15-19. The Racine County Office of Emergency Management wants to make sure you're prepared. 

Racine County officials say homeowners and businesses should have an evacuation route and a place to go if you must leave your home. 

Put together an emergency supply kit that you can take with you. And make sure you have flood insurance for damage it may cause to your home. 

“We have seen first-hand how destructive flooding can be,” said David Maack, Racine County Emergency Management Coordinator. “The 2017 floods in Burlington disrupted many lives and cost residents, businesses and the community millions of dollars in damage, lost wages and production.”

More tips:

Keep important documents in a waterproof container. And create password-protected digital copies. Move valuables to higher levels and consider raising up appliances, water heaters and furnaces. Remove debris from drains and gutters. Install check valves and consider a sump pump with a battery.

Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters. Turn Around. Don’t Drown! Just six inches of fast-moving water can knock over an adult, while 12 inches can carry away a small car. Remember that driving into floodwaters puts your life and the lives of first responders at risk. More than half of flood fatalities are vehicle related. Driving through floodwaters also puts your vehicle at risk of severe damage. Stay off bridges over fast-moving water. Fast-moving water can wash bridges away without warning. If your vehicle is trapped in rapidly moving water, then stay inside.

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