Rising Water means Rising Danger

When the water rises, so does the danger.  The Georgia Emergency Management Agency reports that many communities in the state experience some kind of flooding after heavy thunderstorms.  Flash floods usually result from intense storms dropping large amounts of rain within a brief period. They occur with little or no warning and can reach full peak in only a few minutes. Communities particularly at risk, are those located in low-lying areas, near water, or downstream from a dam.  Georgia has more than 4,600 dams, the majority of which are privately owned. The key with any disaster, weather-related or not, is to be prepared, says Sheri Russo with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency. “There is a huge benefit to being prepared. There is a distinct difference between people who are prepared and people who are not prepared.  The first thing Georgia residents should do is prepare. Sit down with your family and friends and develop a plan; what to do in case you have to evacuate your home, and areas that you need to go to in your home that are safer during severe weather. The second thing you need to do is develop a kit. There is a suggested list of things you can have in your ready kit that can be found on the Ready Georgia website.  There is also information on the website on preparing, planning, and staying informed. To develop a ready kit it is simple, it doesn’t cost a lot of money, and it certainly doesn’t take a lot of time. Look around your home, you probably have a good majority of the items you need for a ready kit already in your home.” Learn more about preparing for disasters by visiting www.ready.ga.gov.