FLOOD04420

• County: Statewide
• Community: Statewide
• Stream Name: All
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: Flood Fight Operations
• Date: 8/1/1996
• Prepared For: FEMA
• Prepared By: FEMA
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Educational/Technical/Reference Information

Many questions and special problems require attention during a
flood emergency. Previously identified problem areas should be
addressed during the planning process. Valuable information can
be gleaned from the lessons learned in other communities tltat have
suffered through high water events and these lessons learned
should be incorporated into your community flood planning
program.

The flood may be only one of the problems faced by the
community. For example, fIres may occur in the flood zone or the
flood may be a result of the heavy rains that accompany a tropical
storm. Each of these other emergencies may have separate
emergency response plans. All emergency plans must be
coordinated so that they can readily interface during multiple
hazard events.

Notes

Hazardous materials are often released by floodwaters.
Chemicals and dangerous materials should be removed from areas
threatened with inundation. Service stations should remove all
petroleum products from storage tanks. It may be necessary to
refill storage tanks with water to prevent them from lifting.

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Gravity anchored vessels, such as propane storage tanks resting
on stanchions, may become buoyant in flood waters. As part of a
mitigation program, some communities require such containers to
be strapped in place and to be provided with pressure loss check
valves to halt the flow of product from ruptured lines.

Pipelines can be damaged by flood waters, particularly where
they cross rivers or are subject to scouring. To prevent explosions
and other releases, it may be advisable to shut down pipeline
~--------systems that are particularly vulnerable to damage before
inundation. Valves and other shut-off systems are very difficult to
locate and operate when they are covered with flood waters. At a
minimum, utility and pipeline officials should be available to
shutdown these and other systems in the flooded or tltreatened
areas.

Farm animals often become victims of flood waters. In some
areas of the country, farm co-ops have been very instrumental in
assisting farmers to relocate herds to other farms on higher ground.
In some cases it may be necessary to provide aerial food drops to
animals stranded on islands or other high ground.

Modem farm machinery is very expensive. The only effective
way to protect large pieces of farm apparatus is to remove them
from areas subject tQ flooding. But since farm machinery was not

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