Surviving Hurricane Floods: What I Wish I’d Known as a Florida Shores Hurricane Ian Flood Victim

I typically write all my own articles, but with Hurricane Milton barreling down on the west coast of Florida today, I saw this posted on social media and found it to be very good information. Even though we live in the midwest, far from ever seeing a hurricane, you may still live in an area of the city that’s prone to flooding and find this helpful information. Full disclosure, I do not know who the original author is and I’ve taken liberties with rewriting/condensing some wording to make it easier to read.

As a survivor of Hurricane Ian’s devastating floods, I’ve learned a lot about the importance of preparation, calm decision-making, and taking swift action. I’m sharing these insights not to cause fear, but to equip you with the knowledge we wish we’d had before the floodwaters rose. If you think your home might be at risk for flooding, take a moment to read through these tips. We made it through, and so will you—but a little preparation goes a long way.

🌀 BEFORE YOU FLOOD: Preventive Measures 🌀

1. Stay Alert with Flood Apps: Keep your phone’s volume on and download reliable weather alert apps. It was a flash flood warning that woke me up just in time to save a lot of our belongings.
2. Move Important Items to Higher Ground: Documents, photos, electronics, and anything valuable should be moved to countertops or higher shelves. This includes items in your car—get everything off the floorboards. We lost three cars because we didn’t take this precaution.
3. Raise Electric Appliances: Small kitchen gadgets like food processors, crockpots, and griddles that are typically stored in lower cabinets need to be relocated. Don’t let your electric appliances become casualties of the flood.
4. Store Food Smartly: Dry food should be kept off lower shelves. Trust me, eating hot cheese and grapes while waiting for rescue was not fun—don’t be us!
5. Protect Essential Supplies: Things like bandages, medications, sanitary items, and blow dryers should be moved from low cabinets to higher ground. If it’s not in a bottle, move it up.
6. Turn Off the Breaker: As soon as you notice flooding, turn off your breaker even if the power is already out. This can prevent dangerous situations like electrical shock or harming utility workers.
7. Manage Generator Safety: Be cautious with extension cords running from generators in standing water. Also, secure gas cans so they don’t float away and create a hazardous mess.
8. Keep Electronics Dry: Have a waterproof container ready for essentials like phones and flashlights to keep them dry for immediate use.
9. Pet Preparedness: Store pet food off the floor and have leashes ready in case you need to leave quickly.
10. Know Your Water Rescue Gear: If you have a kayak or paddleboard, make sure it’s accessible—you might actually need it to get out of your house!
11. Elevate Pet Crates: Keep dog crates off the floor so you’re not struggling to lift them in the middle of a flood.
12. Flashlight by the Bed: A flashlight on your nightstand is a must. Waking up to a flash flood alert with only a candle to see by was not ideal.
13. Strategic Car Parking: Park your car at the highest point near your house. We lost three cars to flooding because we didn’t think ahead.
14. Pack an Essentials Bag: Keep a go-bag with dry clothes, important items, and essentials ready at all times. We scrambled last minute and almost didn’t make it out in time.
15. Document Everything: Take photos of your belongings, especially expensive electronics, and write down serial numbers. It’ll help with insurance claims later.
16. Keep Kids Close: If you have children, consider not letting them sleep alone during a storm. If we had slept through the alert, floodwaters could have reached a crib level.
17. Diapers and Essentials on the Couch: Keep diapers, wipes, and your baby’s favorite blanket on the couch so they’re ready for quick changes and comfort.
18. Pacifier Clip: If your baby uses a pacifier, clip it to them. You don’t want to lose it in floodwaters.

🌀 POST-HURRICANE: What to Do When the Waters Recede 🌀

1. Find Calm and Focus: Floods are overwhelming, and panic is natural. Force yourself to remain calm, turn on lights or light candles first, and then gather your kids and pets to safety.
2. Cut Drywall Quickly: To prevent mold, use a saw to cut water-damaged drywall as soon as possible, usually from the floor up to 4 feet. Get advice on how high to cut based on your flood level.
3. Organize Trash Properly: Debris cleanup can be slow. Keep construction materials, garbage bags, and furniture in separate piles as required by city services.
4. Keep a Detailed Notebook: Track every call with FEMA, insurance agents, and helpers. Write down all claim numbers, passwords, and important contacts.
5. Don’t Keep Your Flooded Car: Take the insurance money and move on. A flooded car will only bring you more problems down the line.
6. Mold-Proof Your Clothes: Get all your clothes out of the house as soon as possible to avoid hidden mold growth.
7. Save Hardware When Removing Cabinets: Put all hardware in labeled bags to make reinstallation easier.
8. Use a Home Improvement Pro Account: Keep receipts electronically organized—you’ll need them for years when applying for aid or reimbursements.
9. Prioritize Essential Repairs: Focus on the basics to get back in your home. Walls first, then a makeshift kitchen, with floors and doors to follow later.
10. Check Electrical Outlets: Replace all lower outlets, even if they look fine, just to be safe.
11. Vet Contractors Carefully: Only hire licensed and insured contractors. There are too many stories of fraud and scams after disasters like these.
12. Apply for All Available Aid: FEMA, Red Cross, and local county programs can all be a big help. Don’t hesitate to ask for assistance.
13. Stay Honest with Insurance: Don’t commit insurance fraud. It’s not worth the consequences, and they’ll likely catch on.

Final Thoughts: You Will Get Through This

Breathe. The experience might feel like the end of the world, but it isn’t. If you come out of this with your loved ones safe and a roof over your head, you’re already ahead. One day, this will be a story you tell, a memory that fades with time. You’ll rebuild, and you’ll be stronger for it.