Flooding

• Get flood insurance. Homeowner's and renter's insurance does not typically cover flood damage. Don't let your hard work be washed away. Anyone can purchase flood insurance, you do not need to be in a Flood Plain. No home is completely safe from potential flooding, flood insurance can be the difference between recovering and being financially devastated. Flood insurance can be paid regardless of whether or not there is a Presidential Disaster Declaration. For more information about what's covered and to find a policy, you can call the National Flood Insurance Program at (877) 336-2627 or visit FloodSmart.gov.
• Know your flood risk. Look up your address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center. Look up nearby dams on the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Repository of Dams.
• Secure your home. If you have time, bring in outdoor furniture. Move essential items to an upper floor. 
• Turn off utilities at the main switches or valves, if instructed to do so. Disconnect electrical appliances. Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water. 
• Do a household inventory. Take photos and videos of all major household items and valuables. Retain these in a safe place because they are important when filing insurance claims.
• Store important documents in a safe, dry place. Keep them in a watertight container.
• Have an emergency supply kit packed that is ready in case you need to leave your home quickly. Keep it in a designated place and make sure all family members know where it is kept. For items that should be packed, go to Make an Emergency Supply Kit.
• Clear drains. Consider contacting your city or clearing street catch basins to prevent or reduce street flooding.
• Invest in flood mitigation. For every dollar spent by homeowners on flood mitigation, potentially $7 is saved from future losses.

You can mitigate flood damage to your home by:

• • Elevating and anchoring utilities including electrical panels, propane tanks, sockets, wiring, appliances, and heating systems.
  • Installing a water alarm and maintaining a working sump pump to protect your basement. Consider installing a battery-operated backup pump in case of a power failure.
  • Installing floor vents in foundation walls, garages, and other enclosed areas. They reduce flood damage by allowing water to flow through and drain out.
  • Use flood-resistant materials in areas of your home, like replacing carpeting with tiles or using flood-resistant insulation and gypsum wallboard to prevent water from doing major damage.
  • Clearing debris from gutters. Clear away any debris from gutters and downspouts to avoid water accumulation. 
  • Installing a backflow valve on your sewer system to prevent sewage backup into your home. 
  • Adding waterproof veneer to exterior walls to prevent shallow flooding from damaging your home. Seal basement walls with waterproofing compounds. 
  • Elevating or moving your furniture. When flooding is predicted, move furniture and valuables to a safe place, such as an attic or the highest floor of your home. 
  • Improving lot grading. Stormwater should always drain away from the building. If necessary, change your landscaping to improve runoff. This may include building up any sunken areas around the foundation and improving the yard so it slopes away from your home. 
  • Retaining and creating natural green space around your home to help reduce runoff. Consider rain gardens or permeable pavement which allow rain and snowmelt to seep through the surface to underlying layers of soil and gravel. 

• Stay informed. Listen to EAS, NOAA Weather Radio, or local television and radio for information. You can also follow your local National Weather Service office and news outlets on social media sites.
• Get to higher ground. If you live in a flood-prone area or are camping in a low-lying area, get to higher ground immediately. Do not wait for instructions to move. 
• Obey evacuation orders. If told to evacuate, do so immediately. Lock your home when you leave and if you have time, disconnect utilities and appliances. 
• Travel safely. Understand travel information and road conditions before traveling. You should never drive on flooded roadways, it is nearly impossible to know the depth of the flood water or understand the condition of the roadway. Remember the saying, "Turn Around, Don't Drown".
  • Six inches of water can reach the bottom of most passenger vehicles, causing them to stall.
  • A vehicle can float in just a foot of water.
  • Six inches of fast-moving water can knock a person off of their feet. A foot of rushing water can carry away a small car, while two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles. 
  • If your vehicle stalls, abandon it immediately and get to higher ground.
  • If your vehicle is trapped in rapidly moving water, stay in the vehicle. If the water is rising inside the vehicle, seek refuge on the roof. 

• Stay informed. Stay tuned to local news for updated information on road conditions. Pay attention to authorities for information and instructions. Return home only when authorities say it is safe to do so. 
• Avoid floodwaters. Standing water can hide many dangers including toxins and chemicals. There maybe sharp objects or debris hidden by floodwaters and submerged roadways may be unstable or collapsed.
• Inspect home damages. Inspect foundations for cracks or other damages before entering your home. Stay out of buildings if flood waters remain around the building. When entering buildings, use extreme caution.
  • Flooding can impact water safety, especially in the case of floodwaters reaching a well. If you think flooding may have impacted your private well, Waukesha County Environmental Health has resources and information regarding testing.
• Clean safely. Dry out your home as soon as possible to prevent mold. Make sure you are wearing goggles, a long-sleeved shirt, protective gloves, boots, pants, and a respirator mask to protect you from mold damage. Never turn on wet electric appliances; be careful before using any electrical appliance in a flood-damaged house. Throw away any unsafe food that has come in contact with floodwater and thoroughly disinfect food contact sources, such as dishes, countertops, refrigerators, and pantry shelves.