September is National Preparedness Month. This month brings awareness to the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. One in three U.S. adults report being affected by an extreme weather event in the past two years. National Preparedness Month is a timely reminder for Floridians who are experiencing the peak of the Atlantic Hurricane Season.
Flooding
Flooding is the second-leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S. After Hurricane Ian, many Florida waterbodies, including the Kissimmee River saw record-level rainfall and floods. Some areas of Kissimmee were inundated for weeks. Cars, homes and lives were lost to the flood. Despite how dangerous flooding can be, there are ways to be prepared and help reduce the chances of flooding in your area.
Never drive or walk through flooded areas. It may seem tempting to splash in the puddles after a storm, but it will seem less appealing once you realize those pools may have backed-up sewer water in them due to overflow.
Waiting on Wastewater
When we do laundry, shower, wash dishes or flush the toilet, the water used goes down the drain and through the sewer system to the wastewater treatment facilities. Heavy rain can get into the sewer system too. An overwhelming amount of water can cause the sewer systems to overflow into the environment.
There’s an easy way you can help reduce flooding. All you have to do is wait! During heavy rainstorms, delay using your washing machine, showers, sinks and toilets until the storm passes. By waiting, you make it easier for the sewers to do their job while simultaneously protecting our environment.
Preparations
If flooding does occur, it is important to be prepared. You may not be able to leave your home and water services may be impacted. Before the hurricane arrives, make sure you have water for drinking, cooking, brushing your teeth and washing dishes. You should have one gallon of drinking water per person (including pets) for at least three days. You will also need water for bathing, flushing toilets, or cleaning. Make sure there are no leaks and fill your bathtub with water for uses other than food preparation or ingestion. You can also fill a new garbage can, coolers, or any large clean container with water. Again, wait to drain the tub or pour collected water so as to not overwhelm the sewer system.
Before a storm, remember to turn off your irrigation system. Your grass and plants will have plenty of water from the rain. Having your irrigation system running would be wasteful and delay flooding from receding.
Stay Up to Date
Make sure you have a reliable source of information that provides updates regarding the storm. It is important to know if you have been placed under a boil water advisory. Toho notifies customers through advisories posted to our News and Alerts section on tohowater.com. Stay safe and up to date this hurricane season with Toho.
