COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL | SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 | 5B
Post-flood safety tips
Natural disasters can
strike at any time, and no
disaster is more likely to
strike than a flood.
According to the World
Health Organization, floods
are the most frequent type
of natural disaster, affect-
ing more than two billion
people worldwide between
1998 and 2017. And the
WHO reports that floods
are increasing in frequency
and intensity.
The Insurance Informa-
tion Institute notes that
flood damage is excluded
under standard homeown-
ers and renters insurance
policies. However, flood
insurance can be purchased
from the Federal Emergen-
cy Management Agency via
the National Flood Insur-
ance Program.
Purchasing flood insur-
ance prior to flooding can
be a wise move for renters
and homeowners who live
in areas vulnerable to flood-
ing. And should flooding
occur, victims can take
these steps to be safe as they
try to get back to normal.
• Dress the part. When
returning to your property
to assess any damage, wear
appropriate safety gear. The
Centers for Disease Con-
trol and Prevention recom-
mends homeowners and
renters wear a hard hat,
goggles, respirator mask
(with an N95 rating or
higher), thick work gloves,
and waterproof, steel-toed
boots when returning to
their homes after a flood. If
there’s been a sewage leak,
wear rubber gloves and
rubber boots during the in-
spection.
• Conduct a self-inspec-
tion of your home. Local
authorities often dictate
when people can reenter
their homes after flooding
has occurred. Once they
get the go-ahead to go back
home, residents should first
inspect the property to see
if it’s safe to reenter. A walk-
around of the property may
reveal downed power lines,
wildlife and leaky utility
lines that can make it dan-
gerous to reenter a home.
In addition, the Red Cross
recommends checking the
home exterior for
structural damage
like cracks in the
foundation, roof
damage or missing
beams. Any such
damage
should
be inspected by a
professional before
anyone moves back
into the home.
• Assess utilities
and appliances. If
the home is safe
to enter, Allstate
Insurance recom-
mends checking
the utilities and
appliances
in-
side the home.
The CDC advises
against turning on
any light switches,
as doing so could
OLD MILL FARM STORE
-Est 1870-
spark a fire if there are any
gas leaks or electrical prob-
lems. Leave the property
immediately if you smell gas
and call the fire department
to report the leak. If there is
no standing water around
the electrical box and your
clothes are dry, turn off the
electrical system if you did
not do so prior to evacuat-
ing. Do not use any dam-
aged appliances until they
have been deemed safe by a
professional.
Homeowners and renters
victimized by flooding must
make safety a priority when
returning to their homes to
assess the damage.
ARE YOU AND YOUR PETS PREPARED?
EMERGECY PET CHECKLIST
For animals larger than 100 lbs. Horses, Goats, Pigs, etc.
• Prepare your trailer with emergency gear, 10 days of food, water, two buckets, medicines, and stress
relief formula.
• Practice loading before an emergency, use a labeled leather harness with a minimum 10 ft . lead, and
have a route planned or considered.
• Label hooves and horns with your goats name, owner name, and contact info with a permanent in
marker.
For animals smaller than 100 lbs. Dogs, Cats, Birds, etc.
• Have a backpack stocked for 10 days with food, water, extra collar/leash, medicines, stress relief
formula.
• Carry a clear and recent photo of your pet in your backpack and cell phone with emergency contact
info.
• Bring your licenses and any additional information along with pre-scented homely or toy items for
comfort.
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Saturday 10-4
942-3042 • 327 S. River Rd. • Cottage Grove