Flooding in Schuylkill County

With a flood warning still in effect and a disaster emergency declared for our county, we hope that everyone is taking precautions as rain continues to fall. We found these tips on Flood Safety that were provided by FEMA.gov and NOAA.gov that we thought we’d pass along to you.

Flash floods can come rapidly and unexpectedly. They can occur within a few minutes or hours of excessive rainfall, or when a dam or levee fails and even a sudden release of water held by an ice or debris jam. Be cautious during storm seasons, or any time that flooding is common in your area.
You may not have warning that a flash flood is approaching.
Do not drive unless absolutely necessary.
Do not drive through flooded areas. If you see a flooded-out road ahead, turn around. Find another route to your destination.
If there is no other route, get to higher ground and wait for the waters to subside.
Even if the water appears shallow enough to cross, don’t try it. Water hides dips in the road. Worse yet, there may be no road at all under the water. Flooding can scour away the entire road surface and a significant amount of ground beneath.
If your car stalls, abandon it immediately and climb to higher ground.
Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars, causing loss of control or possible stalling.
One foot of water will float almost many vehicles.
10. Two feet of rushing water can sweep away most vehicles – including SUVs and pick-ups.

Keep updated on the weather and any mandatory evacuations by tuning into your local radio or television stations. Stay safe!