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<br />H. Human Intervention <br /> <br />Many of the protective measures discussed here depend on human interven- <br />tion. This means that your house would not be protected unless some <br />person closes an opening, installs a standpipe, or takes some other <br />action. You can see that there could be problems. Four things should <br />be considered before you select a measure that depends on human inter- <br />vention: <br /> <br />1. Do you have adequate warning? Generally, the larger the <br />the river, the more warning you will get. On the <br />Mississippi, flood crest predictions are issued three or <br />four weeks ahead of time. In other areas the waters rise <br />before it stops raining. Warnings are discussed in section <br />II.A., below. <br /> <br />2. Is someone always available to take the proper actions? Who <br />will do it while you're away? If you're depending on a <br />neighbor, will he have to cross a flooded ditch to get to <br />your house? Will he be busy protecting his own house? <br /> <br />3. Can he/she do the job? Is he/she physically able to lift <br />heavy gates or shields? Use special tools? Carry many items <br />up stairs? Reach electrical panels 6~ feet high? Can he/she <br />do the work outside during a raging storm? Is he/she exper- <br />ienced enough to do the job? Is he/she likely to get too <br />excited under pressure? <br /> <br />4. Prepare a detailed written evacuation plan or checklist. Do <br />not trust your memory during such a time of excitement. A <br />written checklist is especially helpful if someone else is <br />doing the jOb (see also "Evacuation Plan, section II.B.). <br /> <br />One final point: Don't prepare everything and then forget it. Equip- <br />ment, valves, shields, supplies, etc., should be periodically checked. <br />Don't pile things on top of the shields or sand bags being stored. The <br />longer it takes for the next flood to come, the more likely you'll mis- <br />pl ace or "borrow" a key item or you' 11 forget what to do. You may want <br />to conduct drills, particularly for the benefit of others you may be <br />depending upon. <br /> <br />1. Stockpil ing <br /> <br />Here is a list of some items you may want to collect and keep in a safe <br />place in case of a flood: <br /> <br />Sandbags, sand: Will you want to dig up your front yard? What if it's <br />frozen or under a foot of snow? How about stockpiling sand in a new <br />sandbox for your kids? <br /> <br />29 <br />