life skills | Being prepared today

April 14, 2023

Preventing Spring Flooding Disasters: Essential Tips for Homeowners and Communities

The causes of spring flooding disasters

As the weather warms up and the snow starts to melt, it can lead to a buildup of water that can cause spring flooding in our communities. In many areas, snow accumulation over the winter can create a large snowpack on the ground and in high country.

When the temperatures start to rise, the snowpack starts to melt and release water into nearby streams and rivers. As spring flooding disasters are often caused by this type of snowmelt, which can quickly overwhelm drainage systems and cause the water to spill over into surrounding areas. There are several factors that can contribute to the severity of spring flooding disasters.

For example, heavy snowfall over the winter can create a larger snowpack, as we have seen this year, which means there is more water that can be released when the snow starts to melt. If the snow melts too quickly, this can exacerbate the situation and lead to flooding. Additionally, if there is a sudden heavy rainfall during the spring, this can add even more water to the situation and make flooding more likely.

Possible Dangers and Destruction from Snow Melt-Off Flooding

Spring flooding disasters caused by snow melt-off can lead to a number of dangers and destruction. In addition to the obvious damage to homes, buildings, and infrastructure, flooding can cause significant danger to those in affected areas, such as riverside properties. The high levels of water can be fast-moving and unpredictable, making it difficult to navigate the area. Additionally, the water can be contaminated with harmful bacteria and chemicals, making it possibly extremely hazardous to come into contact with.

Flooding can also have significant long-term impacts on communities. For example, a flood can cause damage to homes and infrastructure that can take weeks or even months to repair. This can lead to significant economic losses for individuals and for the community as a whole. The destruction that can be caused by flooding can also lead to psychological stress for those impacted, especially if they are displaced from their homes or lose important possessions or family heirlooms due to the flood.

How to Be Aware and Avoid These Dangers

The key to avoiding the dangers associated with spring flooding disasters caused by snow melt-off is staying aware of the situation and being prepared. Stay ahead of these dangers and prepare for winter by winterizing your property. Install landscaping that will divert water away from your property or more importantly your home.

One of the most important things you can do is stay apprised of weather warnings and reports in your area. If there is a risk of flooding due to snowmelt, monitor the situation closely and be prepared to evacuate if necessary. It’s also important to be aware of your surroundings if a flood does occur. Avoid walking through floodwaters, as the water can be contaminated and dangerous. Additionally, be aware of any downed power lines or other hazards that may be present due to the flooding.

Sand bagging to keep water at bay is one of the most widely used solutions but only works to a point. They can become overwhelmed fast when enough water is present.

Another widely used method is levy building and is much more durable but on a grander scale, most of which are built by municipalities, cities and/or counties.

One way you can prepare for potential spring flooding is by having an emergency kit on hand. This kit should contain basic supplies such as food, water, and medication, as well as flashlights, batteries, and a first-aid kit. You should also consider having a plan in place for where you will go if you need to evacuate your home.

Having a few emergency supplies and emergency checklist is a huge step toward being prepared as well.

Ways to Recover if a Snow Melt-Off Flooding Disaster Effects You

If you are impacted by a spring flooding disaster caused by snow melt-off, there are several ways you can start the recovery process.

The first step is to make sure you and your loved ones are safe. If you need to evacuate your home, make sure to follow the advice and instructions of emergency officials.

Once you are safe, contact your insurance company to report any damage to your property.

Communities coming together to help each other is a very effective action that can be taken to mitigate flood damage as ideas and motivation come together for the purpose of everyone’s well being and safety.

Document the damage with photographs and keep track of any expenses related to the flooding. Depending on the severity of the flooding, you may also be eligible for federal disaster assistance.

Contact your local emergency management agency for more information. In the aftermath of a flood, it’s important to take steps to prevent further damage to your home. This may involve drying out your home and belongings, removing any contaminated materials, or making necessary repairs. Be sure to work with reputable contractors and follow any safety guidelines provided by officials.

Conclusion

Spring flooding disasters caused by snow melt-off can be devastating for individuals and communities alike. By staying informed, being prepared, and taking necessary precautions, you can mitigate the impact of a flood if one occurs.

Remember to always prioritize your safety and the safety of your loved ones in the event of a flood. With these steps in mind, you can be better prepared to weather any spring flooding disasters that come your way.

You can search more ways to prepare for winter run off and other ways to be prepared at Ready.gov

A news article to different resources and other ideas, check it out.

I hope this article is helpful and informative.

If you have any questions, comments or input, please feel free to do so in the box below.

Thanks

December 6, 2022December 7, 2022

Winter preparation for the family

I’ve been there and so have a lot of people. Getting caught off guard when the outdoor temps suddenly change to cold or freezing. Then you remember; crapola, I forgot to cover the A/C condenser outside! Even getting items that are sensitive to getting wet pulled under a cover of some sort. Or, as silly as it seems, draining your sprinkler system and opening valves so they don’t freeze and break or burst. Winter preparation as an individual or for the family could be the difference between comfort and discomfort or, worst case, life and death.

If you are prepared for the hazards and harshness of winter you are more likely to stay safe, comfy and healthy when temps start to fall.

Winter preparation thoughtfulness

Every year, preparation for winter time is a necessity in at least 50 percent of the U.S. With snow and freezing temperatures covering the northern half of the country, often times, extreme Winter preparation is needed to protect livestock, agriculture, plumbing, homes, roads and infrastructure as well as our elderly and children.

It is because of necessity that we think of these things. Those of us who live in these cold climates are accustomed to thinking in this way but not all consider every angle nor everything.

Being mindful by planning ahead and watching weather reports during winter will increase productivity, safety and preparedness.

Winter preparation at home

Where to start? Good question. Every climate will have different necessities of course. I would make a checklist of the things you can think of that are most important first. A list you can fall back on every fall to prepare your household for winter. Things that need to be done outdoors because that’s where the temperature will change of course. Things like sprinkler systems or making sure the wood pile is protected from precipitation. Then secondary items like the home inspection type etc..

Stock up on food supplies like canned and dry goods if you don’t already have a food storage and always have a spare/extra bag of pet food for your furry family members.

Give a double check on your home, insulation, furnace, windows, openings, plumbing etc… Make sure your windows and doors have no drafts, this could lead to unnecessary power consumption or loss of heat in your home. Get any outdoor exposed plumbing insulated and covered. The water freezing could cause the pipes to burst. You don’t want to replace piping in the winter time. Trust me.

Tie up any loose ends around the house like putting the leaves from the front lawn in the composter or rolling up and storing all your garden hoses if needed.

Another idea I feel is fairly important personally is to spray the outside and openings of your home twice with an insect blocker to keep spiders and other intruders out. They will most certainly want to move in before the weather turns cold so get to this in the late summer and maybe mid fall.

Give everything a once over. The little things can become a time consuming nuisance if not thought of.

Ranchers and farmers have quite the task before them when it comes to prepping for the winter months. Mending fences and fixing feeders or water troughs are things to be done so that they are not needing fixing in the middle of the cold months.

Power outage mindfulness

Outages can come both during a storm and when there is no weather occurring. The weight of snow can fall power lines and poles and while on the flip side too much power consumption in any given area during a severe freeze can over load the grid causing a blackout. Following a Winter storm prep checklist is going to help you make it through am extended severe storm emergency.

In these cases, make it a point to have a backup power source like a battery storage or even a generator. The food in your fridge will want to go bad. The cold will creep into your home. If you run it for even a few hours you could warm a room in your home, wash laundry, charge phones or laptops and keep food cold in your freezer or fridge. Solar power would be good backup but even more so if you have a battery storage system.

Every prepared family in colder climates have extra blankets and batteries at the very least.

Concern for Elderly, Children and even yourself

Looking out for each other during harsh times and checking up on our elderly family, neighbors and friends is one of the most charitable things we as humans, could do. Being thoughtful could just save someone’s life or help them to be a little more comfortable. One never knows what someone else’s plight might be unless we make the effort to help.

Be educated and know what to do in emergencies. Have a knowledge of some first aid procedures and how to treat frostbite as well as hypothermia. Read up on what other people do in these situations as well as what they might do to be prepared, so that you and your family also, can be prepared.

I hope this has been helpful and informational. If you have any comments, questions or input please do so in the box below.

Thx

Save energy during winter

Farmers Almanac winter prep

November 30, 2022November 30, 2022

Seed banks and seed storages

Collecting seeds is a good hobby. It is even a preparedness skill. Saving for a garden in the near future or saving for hard times to come. Whichever your purpose for saving seeds might be it is a good idea to read up on the storability of each and know what you are doing. Planting a bunk seed is always disappointing. I’ve done it a few times and learned the hard way that seeds only keep for so long and that most have a germination process. From corn to melons to tomatoes, each seed is unique in size and shape. Here are some basics to Seed banks and seed storages.

Storing in your Seed bank

Most seeds may be kept in a plastic Ziploc or similar, however there are some seeds which do require a paper bag or something neutral that will let it breathe. You don’t want your seeds to get moldy. Seeds that are store bought are usually in a paper type of pouch or packaging.

Personally my wife and I keep ours in a shoe box, in bags all labeled because we get a lot of ours from the fruits and veggies we eat. I probably don’t have to explain that one to you. It’s fairly simple. Every spring we go through them all and throw away the shriveled and bad ones and every couple years we start certain seed collections completely over. Be observant and check them out a couple times a year, they are definitely not like food and won’t spoil in the same way.

We have planted bunk seeds quite a few times and we still don’t have it down perfect but we do our best. Persistence and observance is the key. Also, if you buy your gardening seeds that produce foods from a store the package should have full details on what you are planting as well as care for it.

Professional or commercial seed banks store seeds to preserve genetic diversity; hence it is a type of gene bank. Of the many reasons to store seeds, one is to preserve the genes that plant breeders need to increase yield, disease resistance, drought tolerance, nutritional quality, taste, etc. Another is to forestall the loss of genetic diversity in rare or imperiled plant species in an effort to conserve biodiversity.

Many plants that were used centuries ago by humans are used less frequently now and seed banks offer a way to preserve that historical and cultural value.

Location and conditions

Really, seeds prefer a cool dry room or closet to be stored in. A cold storage or concrete room would be the usual suspect and that is where we keep ours, along with most of our canned and dry food storage.

Other kinds of foods have to be seeded by root. Collecting roots and storing them in the proper place is semi crucial too. A root cellar needs to be cool, dark and slightly damp to help keep roots good. Proper packing material for the type of roots stored need observance. For instance, Potato storage containers can range from cardboard boxes to special baskets made of burlap.

Knowing what to plant when…

Most seeds can be planted in the spring but some seeds are picky. Some seeds grow foods that are biennials like cabbage or onions which only seed on the second year. Some have depth requirements such as carrots or beets at a quarter inch compared to spaghetti squash and zucchini at an inch.

The best time to plant all plats is during what’s called a ‘dormant season’. In North America, this is usually late fall through early spring. While it is OK to plant during the rest of the year, It will take a lot more attention and maintenance such as fertilizer and water.

Foods such as zucchini will produce almost all season long while others will take time to grow such as some melons, peppers and Tomatoes producing later in the summer or fall. Most seeds have a specific germination process and others can be varied slightly, so make sure they’re stored properly to get the best results.

Heirloom seeds

Heirloom seeds are seeds that have around a 50-year open pollination. Meaning that they have been growing and reproducing with very little or no human intervention. These seeds are always non GMO and have been growing along a genealogy of the same plant-to-seed line.

Regular store bought seeds, known as hybrid seeds, are usually produced in a greenhouse setting that is specifically designed to harvest seeds.

Heirloom seed vault from My Patriot Supply can help you get a head start on the right seeds you will need and want to start your garden or store away.

Germination prep

The exposure to cold, damp conditions is called seed stratification. It is a process of pre treating seeds in order to simulate natural conditions that a seed would experience in the soil over winter time. There are 2 types of stratification; dry and moist.

Most seeds will need this mock freeze to imitate winter in order to stimulate a germination process. You can put them in the fridge for a week or two to imitate this process before planting in soil. Some seeds require more time than that. You can usually tell which seeds need that cold period before planting because they will have a hard, bony coats that are impervious to water.

Protecting and valuing your seed vault

Having a seed storage of your own gives the sense of self-sufficiency and self-reliance. Knowing how and being able to put those seeds to use growing your own food is an even greater feeling.

Storing for seasonal or yearly use requires maintenance and a little work but pays off in the money you will save and health benefits received from eating garden fresh.

Storing for when and if SHTF? You will definitely be one who has a fighting chance if you are as prepared as you can be and seed storage will help you do just that.

I hope this article was helpful and informative in explaining some basics of seed banks and I hope to help make everyone self-reliant and as prepared as possible.

If you have any questions, comments or input please feel free to comment in the section below.

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