Be FloodReady. Be FloodSmart. Be FloodSafe.

Press Release

For Immediate Release:
June 14, 2017

For more information, contact:
Lauren A. Kinard, Public Information Specialist
(301) 883-5957; lakinard@co.pg.md.us

Be FloodReady. Be FloodSmart. Be FloodSafe. 
Prince George’s County shares flood safety and awareness tips during Flood Awareness Month

LARGO, MD – It’s Flood Awareness Month in Prince George’s County and your Department of the Environment (DoE) is sharing flood prevention tips and information that can help County residents and business owners protect their homes, buildings and personal belongings if flooding occurs.

Floods are the nation’s most common and costly natural disaster. Local and large-scale flooding can happen at any time and anywhere. Just six inches of moving water can knock a person down, and two feet of water can sweep a vehicle away. Knowing your risk, taking proper precautions and developing a strategy are key to reducing damage should flooding occur.   

“The best time to make a flood plan is now and prepare before the threat of flooding. There are many flood management resources available on the DoE website that can help residents prepare. Community residents are also encouraged to work together and implement grassroots solutions such as adopting and cleaning a stream or stenciling stormdrains with ‘Do Not Dump’ reminders to prevent and alleviate flooding,” said DoE Director Adam Ortiz.   

Alert Prince George’s is a text message notification service that advises subscribers in the event of major flooding. DoE’s “Be FloodSmart” poster provides information on what causes flooding, how to prevent local flooding, and how to protect homes and businesses in the case of a flood. Follow these safety tips when a flood watch or warning alert is issued for Prince George’s County and know what to do when encountering flooding:  

• Avoid walking or driving through flood waters.
• If there is a chance of flash flooding, move immediately to higher ground.
• If flood waters rise around your car, but the water is not moving, abandon the car and move to higher ground. Do not leave the car and enter moving water.
• Avoid camping or parking along streams, rivers and creeks during heavy rainfall. These areas can flood quickly and with little warning.

The Department of Homeland Security offers flood safety tips, guidance on making a flood plan, and information on flood insurance premiums, which County residences can save up to 25 percent. For more information on insurance rates and premiums, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Flood Insurance Reform – Rates and Refunds webpage.

The County also participates in FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS) Program. CRS stresses the importance of informing residents of flood hazards and reducing flood risks. DoE’s Status of Hazard Mitigation Plan Implementation for High Priority Flood Mitigation Actions details additional information on these efforts. This document also summarizes the County’s progress on flood-related actions, which are identified in the 2010 Prince George’s County and City of Laurel Hazard Mitigation Plan.

For more information, contact CountyClick at 3-1-1, or visit DoE’s Flood Management webpage.

*Sources: The Department of Homeland Security and the NOAA National Weather Service

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