FEMA advice: Prepare for the worst

NORWICH – “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” FEMA Public Information Officer Ken Higginbotham said. The FEMA official says Chenango County is now an area that is likely to see flooding again, and it is important to be prepared.

This past weekend, city officials were on their toes. The risk of flooding due to the remnants of Tropical Storm Ernesto had the community holding its collective breath, and despite the fact that we were spared, FEMA officials say it is important to be prepared in the event of future disasters.

Higginbotham stressed the importance of making small changes to protect your property from flood damage in the future.

“We know it can be cumbersome and costly, but it is better to take care of it now,” he said.

The most important thing, according to Higginbotham, is to take care of yourself and your family. If flooding is imminent, the safety and security of individuals is the highest priority.

Important measures can be taken long before flooding occurs to prevent damage to personal property. Higginbotham gave several options, such as elevating water heaters, appliances and fuel tanks to prevent damage and leaks. He suggested installing a backflow valve in bathroom plumbing which allows flow out of the house, but seals pipes against flow into the house. More complex measures may include moving electrical wiring and outlets above flood levels. Another idea may be to move furnaces or ventilation systems from the basement to upper levels of the home. The most extreme scenario would be to raise the entire house. Obviously some of these mitigation techniques are more costly and complex than others.