LARGO, MD – June is Flood Awareness Month and the Department of the Environment (DoE) wants to help County residents and business owners protect their homes, buildings, and personal belongings if flooding occurs.
June also marks the beginning of hurricane season and severe weather conditions can cause flooding, threaten lives, and damage property. County residents are encouraged to be flood ready, flood smart, and flood safe.
Floods are the nation’s most common and costly natural disaster. Local and large-scale flooding can happen at any time and anywhere. Just six inches of moving water can knock a person down, and two feet of water can sweep a vehicle away. Knowing your risk, taking proper precautions, and developing a strategy is vital to reducing damage should flooding occur.
The best time to make a flood plan is now. Many flood management resources are available on the Department of Homeland Security website to help residents prepare. Community residents are also encouraged to work together and implement grassroots solutions such as adopting and cleaning a stream or stenciling storm drains with ‘Do Not Dump’ reminders to prevent and alleviate flooding.
Alert Prince George’s is a text message notification service that advises subscribers in the event of significant flooding. In addition, DoE’s offers flood prevention tips and information and a Flood Awareness poster that provides information on what causes flooding, how to prevent local flooding, and how to protect homes and businesses in the case of a flood. Follow these safety tips when a flood watch or warning alert is issued for Prince George’s County, and know what to do when encountering flooding:
- Avoid walking or driving through floodwaters.
- If there is a chance of flash flooding, move immediately to higher ground.
- If floodwaters rise around your car, but the water is not moving, abandon the car and drive to higher ground. Do not leave the vehicle if you enter moving water.
- Avoid camping or parking along streams, rivers, and creeks during heavy rainfall. These areas can flood quickly and with little warning.
The Department of Homeland Security website also offers guidance on making a flood plan and information on flood insurance premiums, on which County residents can save up to 25 percent. For more information on insurance rates and tips, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Flood Risks and Costs webpage.
The County also participates in FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS) Program. CRS stresses the importance of informing residents of flood hazards and reducing flood risks. DoE’s 2020 Progress Report – Hazard Mitigation Plan, Status of Mitigation Actions to Address Flood Hazards details additional information on these efforts. This document also summarizes the County’s progress on flood-related actions identified in the 2017 Prince George’s County and City of Laurel Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Contact PGC311 or visit DoE’s Flood Management web page for more information.
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For more information, contact:
Linda Lowe, Public Information Officer
Department of the Environment
lmlowe@co.pg.md.us; (301) 836-2115 (cell)