Floods usually take days to develop and there is usually some warning to those that live or work in the area of the danger. Flash floods develop more quickly usually as a result of intense storms, dam failures or infrastructure interruptions. There are areas more prone to flash flooding than others but flooding can happen anywhere. Authorities try to issue watches and warning based on predicted rainfall to give people time to prepare. They are part of the weather alert system and are broadcast through television, AM and FM radio and NOAA Weather Radio broadcasting.

Flood Watch: Flooding is possible. Be prepared to evacuate. Stay tuned for further updates.

Flood Warning: Flooding is already occurring or will occur soon. Take immediate precautions. Be prepared to go to higher ground and evacuate if advised to do so.

Be cautious during a flood situation of any kind. Water may seem calm at the surface but the current may be very strong underneath. The water can also be deeper than it appears. Debris can also cause injury to someone in the water. The best advice is to stay away from rising water.

Planning Pointers: Find out if your facility is in the flood plan. Contact the Engineer of The Day at 913/895-6223 or eod@opkansas.org. You should know the elevation of your facility in relationship to nearby rivers, streams, ponds and lakes.

If you have to evacuate the facility, how will you transport employees who may not have transportation available on site? How will you know who needs help?

• First, poll your employees. Ask them if they would need transportation in the event of an unplanned evacuation of the area. Use these numbers to arrive at a ballpark figure of how many will need transportation. Plan for a few extra. 
  
  
• If your company has access to large company vehicles then you can use them. If not, ask your planning team to locate at least one person in their normal responsibility area that would be willing to act as a driver for others. 
  
  
• Tally your resources and see if you need to locate a few extra volunteers. Plan a few back-ups just in case someone is out sick or on vacation. If your facility is very large you should not count on your planning team to provide this service. They will probably be some of the last people to leave the facility. They can be used as a back up just in case there are an unusual number of people needing assistance. 
  
  
• Establish a meeting place that is easy to find such as the lobby of the building in a corner or maybe the break room. Volunteer drivers should know to report to this area directly. 
  
  
• As you are announcing the evacuation, inform employees needing transportation where they should go and remind volunteer drivers to report there also.

Identify records and equipment that should be moved to higher ground in case of flooding. Plan who will be in charge of this and when will they decide it should be done.

• Will these items need to be removed from the property or can they simply be moved to an upper floor of the building? 
• If they can be moved to an upper floor, are there security issues that need to be addressed? 
• If they need to be removed from property how will this be accomplished and how will they be secured?

Inspect the facility for leaks. More than likely, if it leaks even a trickle during an average heavy rain, it will flood in during an intense rain or flash flood situation. Take steps now to correct the problem.

Consider where sensitive records are currently kept. Is the HR department located on the first floor overlooking the stream? Maybe a second floor location would be more suitable for employee records and sensitive company information. This should be part of the risk assessment for your facility. If you can set it up ahead of time so that you don't have to move anything it will make things easier should an emergency arise.

Finally, check with your insurance carriers. Many policies for facilities, equipment and health insurance do not include coverage in case of flooding. Most companies offer the opportunity to purchase this insurance in addition to your current policy.