Flood Safety Tips

Flooding in Grand Prairie

Before

  1. Check with the Stormwater Department (972-237-8321) on the extent of past flooding in your area. Department staff can tell you about the causes of repetitive flooding, what the City is doing about it, and what would be an appropriate flood protection level. They can also visit your property to discuss flood protection alternatives.
  2. Prepare for flooding by doing the following:
    • Know how to shut off the electricity and gas to your house when a flood comes.
    • Make a list of emergency numbers and identify a safe place to go.
    • Make a household inventory.
    • Put insurance policies, valuable papers, medicine, etc., in a safe place.
    • Develop an 72-hour emergency kit and a family disaster plan. Learn how at KnoWhat2Do.com (our regional emergency preparedness program website).
    • Disaster response plan (See the Red Cross’ website for information on how to prepare a disaster plan for your family).
  3. Consider some permanent flood protection measures.
  4. Talk to the Stormwater Department for information on financial assistance.
    • If you are interested in elevating your building above the flood level, or if you are interested in selling your house to the City, the City may be able to apply for federal grants to cover a portion of the cost.
    • Get a flood insurance policy – it will help pay for repairs after a flood and, in some cases, it will help pay the costs of elevating a substantially damaged building.
  5. Get a flood insurance policy.
    • Homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover damage from floods. However, some owners have purchased flood insurance because it was required by the bank when they received a mortgage or home improvement loan.
    • Don’t wait until the next flood to buy flood insurance protection. In most cases, there is a 30-day waiting period before the National Flood Insurance Program coverage takes effect.
    • Contact your insurance agent for more information on rates and coverage.

During/After

  • Always pay attention to warnings, such as signage on the roadways, radio and TV weather updates, etc.
  • Subscribe to AlertGP to receive emergency notifications.
  • Ask for a licensed electrician, plumber, etc., to check or turn on your power, water, and/or gas.
  • Do not wade through flood waters due to the danger of pollutants, debris (nails, glass, etc.), and animals (snakes, ants, etc.).
  • Flood waters are often murky and depth is hard to determine. Do not drive through flood waters! Turn around, don't drown!
  • If emergency evacuation is necessary, please heed the warnings of the City Emergency Management Department and follow the instructions to evacuate - it saves lives of those around you and possibly of the emergency workers responding.

 

Do you really know how deep the water is?

  • 12 inches of fast-moving water can carry away a small car.
  • 18-24 inches of fast-moving water can carry away most large SUV's, vans and trucks.
  • 6 inches of fast-moving water can knock over and carry away an adult.

Turn around, don't drown!

Quick Links

Regional Emergency Preparedness Program: www.KnoWhat2Do.com

Ready.gov/floods (what to do when you receive a flood watch or warning alert from the National Weather Service)

AlertGP (City of Grand Prairie Emergency Notification Signup)

Texas Water Development Board: National Flood Insurance Program

FEMA Flood Map Service Center (Do you live in a high risk flood zone?)

Texas Water Development Board: What to do before, during and after a flood

Texas Water Development Board: Flood Mitigation Planning

Homeowner's Guide to Retrofitting: Six Ways to Protect Your House from Flooding (Fema.gov)

How to Make a Disaster Preparedness Plan (American Red Cross)

Texas Floodplain Management Association