We are all better off when we look out for each other. Working together, you and your neighbors can reduce the risk of flooding in your area. You also can make sure everyone is prepared for flooding if it happens. And you can help keep everyone safe.
Here are some things you can do as a community.
The better you know each other, the better prepared you are to help each other during a disaster. You’ll learn who may need special assistance during a flood. You’ll also find out who may be able to help you. Here are some things you can do:
For example, you can use these events to teach everyone how to:
You can invite fire department, police, or emergency management officials to explain how to do these things. You also can print out and share information from this website.
For example, the neighborhood could practice:
Make sure new and current community members understand which areas are more likely to flood. Also help them understand what they can do about it. You can direct them to HeartlandFloodHelp.org’s map search, where they can find out about their home’s level of risk. They also can use the website to learn more about flood prevention, preparation, and recovery.
How big is your risk?
Options include creating a group on Facebook or using Nextdoor. You can use this social media group to:
This will help them learn who lives in your neighborhood and who has specific needs they should know about.
Contact your local emergency management organization, which supports these teams. CERT volunteers are trained to respond safely, responsibly, and effectively to emergency situations. As a volunteer, you might: