Flood safety tips Published June 14, 2011 By 139th Airlift Wing 139th Airlift Wing ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- Do not drive or walk through floodwater. Drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths which occur after individuals drive or walk through floodwater. Turn around and find an alternate route if a road is flooded; it is almost always more dangerous than it appears. Create an evacuation plan before flooding occurs. Discuss flood plans with your family; everyone should know what to do in case family members are not together when a flood occurs. Evacuate immediately if advised to do so. Keep emergency supplies on hand, such as non-perishable food, medicine, maps, a flashlight (with batteries stored separately) and first-aid kit. Use extreme caution when returning to flood damaged homes or businesses. Make sure everyone is drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration. They should also be wearing sunscreen and sunglasses. Be on the lookout for signs of heat cramps and heat exhaustion. Some symptoms could include weakness, exhaustion, headaches, dizziness, and profuse sweating with elevated body temperature. Basic emergency kits They should contain essential supplies to allow a family to survive a minimum of three days on their own until help can arrive. These supplies include water (one gallon per person per day), nonperishable foods, a first-aid kit, battery-powered or hand-cranked radio, flashlights, extra batteries, medications, cell phone and charger, and other essentials. Remember if you need to evacuate you should bring your purse/wallet with identification, credit cards, check book and cash. Bring important documents such as birth/marriage certificates, insurance policies, bank records and other identification records. It is also important to have an emergency contact list; specific/comfort items for family members such as a diaper bag or favorite toy, etc.