Flood Safety Awareness Week

By M. C. Millman

Flood Safety Awareness Week is an important annual event for Rockland, where floods are a constant throughout the county. 

This year's Flood Awareness Week began yesterday and ends on Saturday, March 16. 

Following another active year for flash flooding in our area with a destructive and deadly flash flood event that took place in July in Rockland County, as reported by Rockland Daily here,  2024 has brought even more widespread flooding.  Just this weekend, Route 59 was closed yet again in front of the Palisades Mall due to the two inches of rain that fell overnight in Clarkstown, as reported by Rockland Daily here.

Protect your home and your family by being prepared. A first step is recognizing that while floods can develop slowly and weather forecasters can anticipate where a flood will happen days or weeks before it happens,  flash floods oftentimes occur within minutes and sometimes without any sign of rain. Being prepared can save lives.

Some critical steps to remember even before the flood waters rise are as follows. 

• Create a Communication Plan and Make Family Members Aware of That Plan
  
• Assemble an Emergency Kit
• Know Your Risk
• Sign Up for Notifications
• Prepare Your Home
• Prepare Your Family
• Charge Essential Electronics
• Be Prepared to Leave

For other flood safety tips and resources, visit here.