TURN AROUND - DON’T DROWN and Try an Alternate Route! List of Roads That Flood

Many Roads in Montgomery County Susceptible to Flooding so Consider Alternate Routes Beforehand!

The next several days will be wet and potentially very windy!  County residents are urged to be alert to changing weather conditions and should be prepared for possible flash flooding.
 
Flash floods more often occur in mountain streams, hilly areas or low-lying areas.  But they do happen in urban and suburban areas like Montgomery County as well.  Flash floods can occur even though it's not raining where you are. It may be raining hard farther upstream and raining so hard that the water can not be absorbed into the ground.

Safety Tips:

If a flash flood warning is issued, act immediately.  Don't wait for high water to dictate your course of action.

Know your location when you are driving.  If you needed rescue, would you be able to direct emergency crews to your location?  Distracted driving can lead to a situation where you are stranded and unable to direct emergency crews to you.  Be alert!
 
Never drive through a flooded road or bridge.  Turn Around - Don’t Drown and try an alternate route! In many cases, it takes far less than a foot of water to incapacitate a vehicle.  It may stall, leaving you stranded, and depending on the level of water, you may not be able to open a vehicle door.  Do not underestimate the power of moving water.
 
Watch for flooding at bridges and dips in the road.  Never drive where water is over bridges or roads. Turn around - Don’t Drown!  The bridges or the road could suddenly be washed out. If you're driving at night be especially careful.  Often visibility is limited due to wind and rain.
 
Often what you can't see below the surface of the water is far more dangerous than the high levels of that water.  Remember that rocks, tree limbs and other debris can be caught in moving water and can be dangerous if you are forced to walk, wade or swim through flood waters.
 
If you have to walk or wade through flood water, use a stick to poke the ground in front of you with each step.  It can help you determine water levels, the bottom surface and the safest possible way to get to higher ground.
 
Remember that flash floods can come without warning, and sometimes without weather.  Be alert and heed all warnings and recommendations from officials. From FEMA's website, some further information about driving through flooded roadways:

Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible stalling.

A foot of water will float many vehicles.

Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles (SUV's) and pick-ups

TURN AROUND - DON’T DROWN and try an alternate route!

LIST OF ROADS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY SUBJECT TO PERIODIC FLOODING

We Prepare Everyday

September is National Preparedness Month! MCFRS encourages all residents to plan and prepare for a variety of emergencies that can potentially occur.

Please take two minutes to watch the below video, from the Ready Campaign and Ad Council, that shows how people with disabilities can take charge to prepare themselves and their families for emergencies.

Window Safety – Kids Can’t Fly

Windows play a vital role in home safety, serving as a secondary escape route in the event of a fire or other emergency, but they also pose a risk for a fall if safety measures are not followed. Safety tips to help prevent window-related injuries in the home:

• Never rely on window screens to keep children from falling out of windows. A screen is not a safety device - - it is designed to keep insects out, not to keep children in.


• Keep furniture such as sofas, beds and dressers away from windows. This will discourage children from climbing near any windows.


• Keep windows closed and locked when they are not being used.


• When windows are open for ventilation, take advantage of all safety features. If possible, open windows from the top and not the bottom if you have double-hung windows – the kind that can open down from the top as well as up from the bottom.


• Install safety devices such as window guards or window stops to help prevent falls.

Window falls can happen quickly and, in some cases, can be deadly. When keeping your kids safe, MCFRS reminds parents that no device can replace active supervision. For more safety tips, visit our website at www.mcfrs.org/mcsafe.

Deck and Balcony Safety

Decks and balconies pose several hazards — the most serious being that your child could slip through the railings and fall, or become wedged in the railings and suffocate. Fortunately, with supervision and a few simple steps, you should be able to prevent these accidents.

Example of safe spacing on deck railing

If the railings on your deck or balcony create any gaps that are wider than 4 inches, you'll need to make some modifications to stop your child from squeezing through and to “child proof” the area. There are a number of options on the market to do this --cover the railings with plastic garden fencing, shade cloth, a sheet of clear plastic, or rigid sheets of Plexiglas.

Get in the habit of keeping patio furniture away from the railings -- this should include potted plants or other climbable objects.

Be aware of furniture light enough for a child to drag to the balcony's edge. You don't want to give your child a chance to climb up and go over the edge. 

Consider adding latches to any doors or windows that lead out to your balcony or deck. These latches should be installed well out of your child's reach.

Ensure children are always SUPERVISED.

Don't Wait. Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today.

Just a reminder that September is National Preparedness Month.  This years theme is: Don't Wait. Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today.

Please take a minute to watch the powerful video below from FEMA.  Then make time to sit down with your loved ones to talk about (and develop a plan) how to prepare for a variety of emergencies that could occur right here in Montgomery County.