Floods are among the most common natural disasters homeowners contend with. Since flooding can be caused by many things--hurricanes, heavy rain, thawing snow and more--your home may be at risk no matter where you live. Luckily, there are plenty of simple measures you can take to prepare for a possible flood and stay safe during one. Here are some basic flood safety tips to remember:
If there is a flood evacuation order in your area, you should leave right away. Floods can deepen and increase in severity very quickly, so it's important to avoid delay in evacuating. Regardless of whether it's mandatory, if you choose to evacuate your home, keep it safe by placing sandbags in front of all exterior doors. Have a "go bag" ready with essentials so you and your household can get out as quickly as possible before you become trapped by rising waters.
If outside your home, avoid areas with standing or flowing floodwaters. Trying to walk or drive through them can be extremely dangerous even if the water seems shallow. Floodwater can hide debris, sinkholes and even electric currents from downed power lines. Stay on the high ground and navigate around floodwaters to stay safe.
If you're at home during a flood, get to the highest level possible. However, avoid taking refuge in your attic unless it has windows or another exit to the outside to avoid being trapped by rising waters.
If you live in an apartment or condo building, go to a higher floor for safety. However, use the stairs if possible, as elevators can malfunction when the mechanisms are exposed to water.
Flooding can be dangerous and damaging to property, but you can keep your household safe by following some basic safety tips. Keep these things in mind when preparing for a possible disaster.
I'm John Mahan, Sales Associate with William Raveis Real Estate, Harwich Port Office.
Throughout his childhood, John Mahan spent summers on Cape Cod at his parents’ home in Dennis Port. His intro to the Cape was, as he puts it, when his parents “carried me down the stairs at Sea Street Beach when I was a week old.” With a lifelong connection to Cape Cod, it seemed only natural for John and his wife, Mary, to move to Harwich – where they still reside – with their two young children in 1996.
Prior to moving to Cape Cod, John lived in the Worcester-Auburn area where he worked for Mass Electric for 10 years and was a member of the International Brotherhood of Utility Workers. When John and his family moved to the Cape, he worked at NSTAR for six years.
John began his career in real estate in 2002 when he joined Team Waystack Realty in Harwich Port. He has been a consistent top producing realtor in the Harwich area for the past 20 years. John’s approachable demeanor, combined with an integral understanding of the Cape Cod residential real estate market, have allowed him to build trusting, long-term relationships with his clients – both sellers and buyers.
