Do you sometimes ask yourself, “What’s this prepare for the unexpected” warning? Well, the only way I can explain why I feel it’s a warning is that if you look around the world, good and bad things happen everywhere, but we tend to hear more of the bad stuff. Prepping for When Flooding Strikes
Prepare For The Unexpected
It could be a flood, a severe ice storm, or a car wreck that disrupts traffic for hours. It could be a tornado, a hurricane, an out-of-control fire, severe winds, a tsunami, or a power outage. I have read several statements about current events in different forums, and I remember seeing a young mother say, “I’ve been told to be prepared for ten years, and nothing has happened where I live.” She is one of the lucky ones.
I have lived in a few cities, and something has happened in every city during my stay there: excessive winds, flooding, tornadoes, ice storms, and more. I learned how to fill sandbags very quickly. I’ve seen homes demolished before my eyes, and there wasn’t anything anyone could do except stay away and go to safer, higher ground.
1983 Farmington, Utah Flooding
I remember repurchasing a home in 1983 in Farmington, Utah, and the night we moved in, some warm weather caused the snow in the mountains above us to melt extremely fast, as in flooding. The city had never had floods like that. A city called Bountiful, a few miles to the south, had flooded and washed away many roads that same weekend. In the middle of the night, families were evacuated and had to get help from friends and family to save their homes.
The wall of mud that came down the mountainside destroyed several homes. No one had flood insurance because the city had never seen floods like this and didn’t live in a “flood plain.” They have since built a water catch basin to collect the excess water stream to help minimize any future flood damage to the area.
It was a Friday night, and Mark and I had just moved into a home we built in the Farmington area. Saturday morning, we started hearing sirens to evacuate and helicopters overhead telling us to leave our homes. Well, we were down trying to sandbag a home and remove as many items as possible from a home just down the hill. Keep in mind that we have never met these people. It’s surprising what your body and soul can do when you must help other people. It’s just a natural thing to do.
St. George, Utah Floods
You may remember seeing St. George, Utah, on the television with pictures showing floods they too had never experienced before. Homes slid off into the Santa Clara River across town from our home. We had a home in St. George then but were up in Salt Lake City, Utah, for a visit. I called a neighbor to ask how our neighborhood was doing, we were fine but in Santa Clara, Utah, they were in trouble. Trying to be lighthearted, Mark will often say, “This is sure a funny way to run a desert!”
Today, I am more worried about contaminated water and major power outages. I’m prepared for every scenario unless, as I have said before, my house crumbles after an earthquake hits our area. Southern Utah is gearing up for 350,000 to 500,000 people to head to the area from California and Nevada.
Those states will run out of water or food because the roads may not be driveable, and they only have one way to go, and that’s to Utah. Once they hit our area, we will not have enough food or water for all those people if they can make it. Utah’s advantage is the snowfall; it produces water for the state and other states. We also have several aquifers that other states do not have.
Not every year does Northern Utah get the snow needed. Mother Nature decides on the weather, so we must also prepare for droughts. 12 Reasons Why You Should Prep
Evacuation Plan
This is why creating an evacuation plan for your family, wherever you live, is critical. If the states run out of gas for cars or have zero electricity, those gas pumps will not work. Now what? Please keep your gas tanks 3/4 full. What if the traffic is 20 miles long? Will your car have enough gas to get you to the next town? How far is the next city, town, or county?
Some people like an electric car, but I fear a power outage. A significant power grid hit. If you haven’t read “Lights Out” by Ted Koppel, there are NO fantasy stories in his book. It’s the real deal. Please read it now. Our three power grids are antiquated: 1. West Coast Grid, 2. Texas Grid, and 3. East Grid. These three power grids deliver power to parts of Canada and the states we all live in.
Will it be better to stay put in your home? Please talk with your family and bring up scenarios that you may encounter unexpectedly. It happened to Mark, me, and several friends. Over the years, we’ve seen and experienced things that we never thought would happen to our neighborhood, community, and city. For the most part, we were ready, and others weren’t.
We have always been grateful we worked to plan for unexpected emergencies. Be sure to be the family on your street that is prepared. You’ll be so glad you did, as will your family. You may have enough to help others on your street. Be willing to share your ideas and plans so others can learn from you and implement their family preparedness plans. Flooding: Everything You Need to Know
Please store water: 4 gallons per person per day.
Please store food: Write down what you eat daily and store enough food for three days, seven days, and thirty days or more.
Consider buying my book and studying it together: Prepare Your Family for Survival.
Final Word
Please meet with your neighbors and work together to prepare for the unexpected. This means you talk to each other and share your skills and what YOU can bring to the team. I just discovered a nurse about one mile from my house. She will probably be called to the hospital to work after an unforeseen emergency, but it gives me peace of mind knowing we have two nurses in the neighborhood. God bless you in all you are doing. Stay safe, and keep on prepping. May God Bless this World, Linda
How Much Water Should You Store For Your Family
Copyright Images: Flooded Road AdobeStock_165861017 By Steve, Fallen Power Lines AdobeStock_509007615. By Valmedia
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