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Floods Swamp Eastern Corridor
Red Cross Provides Food and Shelter to Evacuated Residents
Written by
Amanda Mark
, staff, RedCross.org
Wednesday, June 28, 2006 — After intense rain over four days drenched the eastern coast from Virginia to New England, residents are now dealing with dangerous flooding. Nearly 40 American Red Cross shelters have opened in those communities and additional shelters remain on-standby if flooding conditions worsen.
Evacuations are ongoing as rising waters and the resulting flooding in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have forced many families to leave their homes. In Rockville, Md., cracks were discovered in a dam near Lake Needwood, which forced a mandatory evacuation of over 1,200 families. Roads and bridges around the Delaware River are closed for more than 40 miles as cresting waters prove dangerous.
Red Cross Preparedness Expert Keith Robertory urges affected residents to follow the directions of local officials, avoid flooded roads, and to evacuate as soon as possible when evacuations are recommended.
While the storm system has moved past the soaked Washington D.C. area, heavy rain is expected in New York and New England.
Flash floods are still possible even as the rain abates. Flash floods can develop in as little as a few minutes to a few hours; but the quick accumulation makes it more, not less, dangerous. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the reason that so many people drown during flooding is because they don’t realize the power of water.
Turn Around, Don’t Drown
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Stay away from floodwaters. If you come upon a flooded road, turn around and go another way.
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Never attempt to drive through water. Water can be deeper than it appears, and water levels can rise very quickly.
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Most cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving water. Many flood-related deaths are caused by people attempting to drive through floodwaters.
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Floodwaters can erode roadways, and a missing section of road – even a missing bridge – will not be visible with water running over the area.
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Avoid walking through floodwaters; six inches of moving water can sweep most people off their feet.
Stay Alert and Informed
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If it has been raining hard for several hours or steadily raining for several days, be alert to the possibility of a flood.
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Listen to NOAA Weather radio, local radio or TV stations for flood information.
Flash Floods Can Develop in Only a Few Minutes to a Few Hours
A flash flood WATCH means flash flooding is possible in your area. When a flood or flash flood WATCH is issued…
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Be alert to signs of flash flooding and be ready to evacuate on a moment's notice. o Move your furniture and valuables to higher floors of your home.
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Fill your car's fuel tank, in case an evacuation notice is issued.
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A flash flood WARNING means a flash flood is occurring or will occur very soon.
When a Flood WARNING is issued…
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Listen to local radio and TV stations for information and advice.
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If told to evacuate, do so as soon as possible. Or, if you think a flash flood has already started, evacuate immediately.
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Move to higher ground away from rivers, streams, creeks and storm drains.
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Do not drive around barricades; they are there for your safety.
The Red Cross continues to monitor the situation in communities across the affected area. Local Red Cross chapters will continue to open shelters as needed to assist evacuated residents.
"Right now our goal is to support the emergency needs of all affected communities with shelters and meals," said Carol Yelverton, spokesperson for the American Red Cross. "Afterwards, we will help people get back on their feet as quickly as possible with clean up kits, water and food.”
Affected residents in need of shelter or assistance should contact their local Red Cross.
The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to millions; and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected. Almost 4 million people gave blood through the Red Cross, the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.
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