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Protecting yourself from the hazard
Flood Warning System
In the event of a major storm, the city receives notification from the Volusia County Emergency Management Center and certain city departments are put on alert. Local news media sources such as radio and television are notified and distribute instructions to the public. The City of Daytona Beach works with the Volusia County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to monitor flood, storm threats and advise the community accordingly. The following sources service the Volusia County/City of Daytona Beach area:
Radio Television
- WNDB 1150 • WESH – 2
- WPNA 1490 AM • WKMG – 6
- US93 93.1 • WFTV – 9
- WHOG 95.7 • WDSC – TV15
- WVYB 103.3
- WLOV 99.5
- NOAA Weather Frequency – 162.400MHz Websites
- FEMA
- Volusia County Flood Threat Recognition System
- National Weather Service
- The Division of Consumer Services Storm Watch
- Volusia County Emergency Management Services
- National Hurricane Center's Public Advisories
- Weather Forecast
- NOAA Tide Stations - Live Tide Data
- Daytona Beach Emergency Management
Evacuation Info
If local authorities call for an evacuation, leave immediately and follow all instructions and follow a safe evacuation route to a shelter. Plan ahead and have a personal evacuation plan to provide for your pets, your personal hurricane supplies and important personal papers and documents. When leaving your home during an evacuation, turn off electricity and gas. If you live on a boat, do not stay on your boat during a storm or hurricane, seek shelter.
View local evacuation routes
If local authorities have not called for an evacuation, stay home and make emergency preparations. During a flood, the following safety measures should be taken to prevent personal injury and property damage
- Do not walk through a flooded area. Drowning is the number one cause of death as a result of floods, especially flash floods. Currents can be deceptive and as little as six-inches of water can knock a person of their feet. If you must walk through the standing or flowing water, use a pole or stick to see how deep the water is and make sure that you do not enter unexpectedly deep areas.
- Do not drive through a flooded area. Do not drive around road barriers; the road or bridge may be washed out. Washouts are not necessarily visible through water surfaces.
- Stay away from power lines and electrical wires. Electrical current can travel through water. Report downed power lines to the local power company or emergency staff, and stay well clear.
- Have the power company turn off your power. Some appliances keep an electrical charge even after they have been unplugged. Do not use the appliances or motors that have gotten wet unless they have been taken apart, cleaned and dried.
- Visually inspect the area outside your home near the meter. If the meter or any of the piping and wires on the wall of your home or office is gone or look damaged, call a licensed electrician for advice.
- Look out for small animals, especially snakes. Small animals that have been flooded out of their homes may use your home to seek shelter. Use a pole or stick to poke and turn things over and scare them away.
- Look before you step. After a flood, the ground and floors can be covered with debris, such as nails and broken glass. Floors and stairs covered with mud can be very slippery.
Be alert for gas leaks. Use a flashlight to inspect for damage. Never smoke or use open flames unless you know the gas has been properly turned off and the entire area has been ventilated.
Carbon monoxide exhaust kills. Only use a generator or other gasoline-powered equipment outdoors. The same goes for cooking stoves. Charcoal fumes are especially deadly – use charcoal only outdoors.
Safety Tips
Before a Flood
- Avoid building in a floodplain.
- Construct barriers (levees, beams, floodwalls) to stop floodwater from entering your home.
- Seal walls in basements with waterproofing compounds to avoid seepage.
- If a flood is likely in your area, listen to the radio or television for information.
- Know the difference between a flood watch and a flood warning. A watch means flooding is possible. A warning means flooding is occurring or will occur soon.
When a Flood is Imminent
- Be prepared! Pack a bag with important items in case you need to evacuate. Don't forget to include needed medications.
- If advised to evacuate your home, do so immediately.
- If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground.
- If possible, bring in outdoor furniture and move essential items to an upper floor.
- Turn off utilities at the main switches or valves if instructed to do so. Disconnect electrical appliances.
During a Flood
- Do not walk through moving water. As little as 6 inches (15 centimeters) of moving water can make you fall.
- If you have to walk in water, wherever possible, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.
- Do not drive into flooded areas. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely.
- Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.
After a Flood
- Listen for news reports to learn whether the community's water supply is safe to drink.
- Avoid floodwaters; water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, or raw sewage. Water may also be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines.
- Avoid moving water.
- Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded. Roads may have weakened and could collapse under the weight of a car.
- Stay away from downed power lines, and report them to the power company.
- Return home only when authorities indicate it is safe.
- Stay out of any building if it is surrounded by floodwaters.
- Service damaged septic tanks, cesspools, pits, and leaching systems as soon as possible. Damaged sewage systems are serious health hazards.
- Clean and disinfect everything that got wet. Mud left from floodwater can contain sewage and chemicals. Source: U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency
Please explore these topics to learn more: - Develop a disaster plan
- Disaster supply kit checklist
- Evacuation information
- Pet planning
- Safeguard your home
- Shelters Information
- Small business preparedness
- Special needs shelters (SpNS)
- Preparedness for caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's
- Preparedness for persons with epilepsy
- Telephone numbers
During the threat - Riding out the storm
- Using your safe room
After a disaster - Cleaning up
- Disaster assistance
- Keeping safe after the storm
- Water