It was a wake-up call when storm surges from Hurricane Katrina slammed into vulnerable levees and canals and they failed. The devastation prompted an urgency about conditions in the Sacramento - San Joaquin Delta, a metropolitan-agricultural area with the greatest risk of catastrophic flooding in the United States, according to a University of California, Davis study.
In 2006, repairs to 33 levees in dire need of attention were expedited. The work is ongoing to dozens more levees and berms the state Department of Water Resources has determined are weakened.
However, that is just one part of being prepared for flooding in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys, much of which lie in the floodplains of half a dozen major rivers, numerous streams and creeks and in the path of dams.
is a News10 guide to flood readiness to help valley residents be better informed and prepared in the event of flooding. Katrina also taught that individuals need to take responsibility for their readiness in a flood situation.
Flood Preparations
There are a number of steps you can take to improve your readiness and odds of survival in the event of flooding:
• Know the "lay of the land" where you live and work. Creeks, streams, drainage canals and rivers can all flood during excessive rainstorms and snowmelt. Do you live in a floodplain? Do you know if your community has an evacuation plan?
• Supplies for three days should include a hand-cranked or battery-operated radio, batteries, flashlights, water, non-perishable food, clothing, blankets and medications.
• Know how to turn off electricity and gas supplies to your home.
• Make and review an evacuation plan, including a meeting location for family members.
• Flood insurance may be a wise investment. If you live in a federally-designated floodplain, you could qualify for coverage at lower rates under the National Flood Insurance Program.
• Document your belongings with descriptions and photographs and keep the inventory in a dry, accessible place.
• Don't forget to consider pets and livestock needs for at least three days, including food, medications, carriers, leashes.
• Flood preparedness plans should include the special needs of the infirm and the elderly.
Emergency Alert Radio Stations: KFBK 1530
KSTE 650,
KUBA 1600,
KMYC 1410
E-mail your flood-ready tips and stories to News10.net
Flood Terms
• Flood Stage Water Level: the level at which a creek, stream, river or reservoir overflows its banks
• Floodplain: an area defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as prone to flooding
• Flood Watch: flooding is possible in the designated area
• Flood Warning: flooding is imminent or already occurring in the area
• Flash Flood: a sudden and violent flood
• 100-Year Floodplain: a frequently used benchmark of catastrophic flooding. A flood of this magnitude has a one percent chance of occurring in any given year
is a News10 guide to flood readiness to help valley residents be better informed and prepared in the event of flooding. Katrina also taught that individuals need to take responsibility for their readiness in a flood situation.
