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Spring Showers Bring . . . Flooding
 CONCORD, NH - Apr 13, 2007 - The Northeast is expected to be hit with a powerful storm this weekend, possibly rivaling the "The Perfect Storm" from 1992. Heavy rains, snow, flooding, strong winds, and tidal surges are forecast in some areas. The American Red Cross gives the following safety tips.
Know What to Expect
- Know your area's flood risk - if unsure, call your local Red Cross Chapter, emergency management office, or planning and zoning department.
- If it has been raining hard for several hours, or steadily raining for several days, be alert to the possibility of a flood.
- Listen to local radio or TV stations for flood information.
Reduce Potential Flood Damage By . . .
- Raising your furnace, water heater, and electric panel if they are in areas of your home that may be flooded.
Preparing for High Winds
- Make trees more wind resistant by removing diseased and damaged limbs, then strategically remove branches so that wind can blow through.
- Move or secure lawn furniture, outdoor decorations or ornaments, trash cans, hanging plants and anything else that can be picked up by wind and become a projectile.
Prepare for a Power Outage
- Assemble essential supplies, including: flashlight, batteries, portable radio, at least one gallon of water, and a small supply of food.
- If you have space in your refrigerator or freezer, consider filling plastic containers with water, leaving about an inch of space inside each one for expansion.
- If you use medication that requires refrigeration, most can be kept in a closed refrigerator for several hours without a problem. If unsure, check with your physician or pharmacist.
During a Power Outage
- Only use a flashlight for emergency lighting. Never use candles.
- Turn off electrical equipment you were using when the power went out.
- Avoid opening the refrigerator and freezer.
- Do not run a generator inside a home or garage. If you use a generator, connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator. Do not connect a generator to a home's electrical system.
- Leave one light on so you know when the power comes back on.
- Use the phone for emergencies only. Listening to a portable radio can provide the latest information. Do not call 9-1-1 for information - only call to report a life-threatening emergency.
- Remember to provide fresh, cool water for your pets.
For More Information
If you would like more information, contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross at 225-6697 or 1-800-464-6692.
The American Red Cross is where people mobilize to help their neighbors - across the street, across the country and across the world - in emergencies. Each year, in communities large and small, victims of some 70,000 disasters turn to neighbors familiar and new - the nearly 1 million volunteers and 35,000 employees of the Red Cross. Through almost 815 locally supported chapters, more than 15 million people gain the skills they need to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their homes, communities and world. Some 4 million people give blood - the gift of life - through the Red Cross, making it the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The Red Cross helps thousands of U.S. service members separated from their families by military duty stay connected. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, a global network of 181 national societies, the Red Cross helps restore hope and dignity to the world's most vulnerable people. 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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