(Juneau) Dodge County officials are urging residents to think about how they can protect themselves and their property from flood damage. This week is Flood Safety Awareness Week and the Dodge County Public Health Department says people should be prepared.
Tips include contacting the local health department to familiarize yourself with community emergency plans. Speak to insurance companies about flood coverage. Install backflow valves for drains, toilets, and other sewer connections as well as installing sump pumps with back-up power.
Officials also encourage the public to assemble a disaster emergency kit. They say the kit should include a three-day supply of water, a cell-phone charger, flashlights, medications, local maps, and a change of clothes.
Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Greg Engle says flooding from melting snow or heavy rain is one of the most common and most costly natural hazards in Wisconsin. According to the National Weather Service, 62-percent of Wisconsin flood related fatalities occur while an individual is behind the wheel.
