Floods occur in many ways; FEMA indicates that over 80% of all natural disasters are also accompanied by floods. Whether it be hurricanes, rain, surge, tide, even wildfires lead to floods. Are you prepared? Do you live in a flood zone? Do you know how to escape a vehicle in deep water?

1. Prepare for, Survive,
and Live After a Flood

2. Think how big a gallon jug is?
Consider hundreds of thousands of those jugs,
each weighing over 8 pounds, moving.
That’s power.
Add in the equation on the following slide.
Water Is Powerful

3. More Free Information
Since Slideshare no longer supports links,
I’ve put all the links to free apps, gear and web
pages on my web site at
www.bobmayer.com
Use the pop up from the following image there and
scroll through for what you want:

4. Do not do what the people in this image are doing!
You will get swept away.

5. Six inches of moving water
will take a person down.
One foot of moving water
can sweep a car away.

6. Above is the result of a flash flood. In the desert.
In fact, deserts are particularly prone to flash
floods due to rocky terrain and lack of vegetation
and dirt to absorb rainfall.

7. Having commanded a Special Forces A-Team that
was focused on Maritime Operations, I learned
first-hand the power of water.
To demonstrate this, the instructors at the Royal
Danish Navy Fromankorpset Combat Swim School
had us try to swim to land near the mouth of a
river. It easily pushed us back out to sea despite
our best efforts.

8. How Likely Is a Flood In Your Area?
FEMA has a web site where you can check the flood
map for your location. Remember, though, that if you
are traveling, you don’t know the possibilities along
roads and in different areas.
FEMA Flood Map Service Center

9. Note that there are many areas that were not
in flood zones, that are now included because
of rising water levels. A new map as of 2020
includes 6 million more homes than previously
mapped.
Check this new MAP
via the pop up on my web site.
The Area Study

10. There are three main types of floods:
Coastal (surge) Flood
River (fluvial) Flood
Surface (pluvial) Flood)
How Likely Is A Flood In
Your Area?

11. Occurs on coast-lines of large bodies of water as the
name implies.
It is the result of extreme tides caused by severe
weather.
Storm surge pushes water onto shore.
A storm surge timed with a high tide can be
devastating.
There are 3 levels:
Minor: some beach erosion but no major damage.
Moderate: more beach erosion and some damage to
homes and businesses.
Major: Serious threat to life and property. Large scale
beach erosion. Roads will be flooded and structures
damaged.
Coastal Flood

12. Remember that a tidal
surge can cause flooding.

13. When we lived on Hilton Head
Island, many people were unaware
that almost the entire island is a
flood zone. When one friend who
lived on the beach heard that there
was a possibility of a twelve foot
storm surge, she thought that
meant 12 feet horizontal (inland).
We had to explain that meant 12
feet vertical which then reaches out
horizontally.

14. If you live in a tidal zone, make sure
you understand tide tables.
Not all tides are the same. There
are ‘spring’ tides which have
nothing to do with spring, but rather
when the Earth, moon and Sun are
in alignment. This occurs twice a
month and produces higher than
usual tides.
Combine a spring tide with storm
surge and you have a disaster.

15. This happens when excessive rainfall over a period of
time overwhelms a river’s capacity to carry the water.
It can also be caused by snow melt, ice jams, and
debris jams.
A dam failure can cause an abrupt and catastrophic
form of river flood. And vice versa: a river flood can
cause dam and levee failures downstream.
There are two types of river floods:
Overbank flooding is when the water continues to rise
over the banks.
Flash flooding occurs when there is an intense, high
velocity rainfall. These often are doubly dangerous as
debris can be carried by the flood water.
Remember, it might not be raining where you are, but
the river can flood from rain and run off upstream.
River Flood

16. The Big Thompson River flood in Colorado in 1976 killed
144 people.
12 inches of rain fell in four hours. The river is usually an
average of eighteen inches deep. After this sudden rain, a
wall of water 20 feet high swept through the canyon at 14
miles an hour.
Farther down stream there had been no rain at all so this
surprised many.
The car below was crushed by the river flood.

17. More and more dams are aging and degrading.
During your AREA STUDY, you should know whether
you live downstream of a dam and what the potential is.
I have a free short read about when the St. Francis
Dam failed.
Dam Failure

18. This happens separate from an existing body of water.
Torrential rainfall overwhelms the area’s normal way of
channeling water.
Intense rain saturates an urban drainage system and
water back flows into streets and structures.
Run off isn’t absorbed by the ground and the water
level rises.
(our house flooded at over a mile high in altitude, on top
of a ridge, in Boulder, Colorado, because the rocky
ground couldn’t absorb a short, intense period of rain—
the ground water simply rose up into it).
Surface Flood

19. A big concern with a surface flood is when the sewage
system overflows.
Also, floods can cause many stored toxins to be
inundated and poison the flood waters.
NEVER DRINK FLOOD WATER.
This is why maintaining an adequate emergency supply
of drinking water is critical as tap water sources will be
contaminated.
For the same reason I recommend a filtering system.
More on water in that slideshow.
Surface Flood

20. A Flood Watch means a flood is possible
A Flood Warning means a flood is happening
Flood Alerts

21. If you have time, move valuables to the highest level
before evacuating.
When evacuating, move to higher ground, away from
water sources such as rivers or lakes.
NEVER go around a barrier on a road during a flood.
If evacuating by car avoid standing water.
Drive slowly.
If walking, never go through moving water. Remember
earlier when I gave how much water weighed? Mass
times velocity will knock you off your feet and sweep
you into deeper water.
What To Do

22. These Signs Are For
Real

24. Never drive through a flooded road or bridge.
Do not stay in a flooded car.
If your car is swept away or submerged, stay calm and
break the window to get out or go through the sun roof.
Hold your breath, open the door, and swim for the
surface.
You will be in the current.
Point your feet downstream.
Go over obstacles, never under.
Strive to angle toward dry ground but don’t fight directly
against the current.
If stuck above a flash flood, such as in a tree, stay there
and wait for rescue.
What To Do

25. While on the water, always wear your life vest.
It’s the equivalent of putting your seat belt on in a car.
Too many people have drowned with a life vest left on
the boat.
The very nature of an accident means it’s not
anticipated. Therefore you probably won’t have a
chance to put it on before you’re in the water.
I wrote an article on how after reading a tweet about
always wearing a life vest would have saved someone’s
friends lives, I started wearing mine all the time and
there’s a good chance it saved my life when I capsized
in the fast moving Little River in TN while kayaking.
What To Do

26. A good tool to have within reach of your car is a
combination seat belt cutter and glass breaker.
click on image for link
What To Do

27. Your Home
If you are caught at home and can’t evacuate:
Pack any coolers with as much ice as possible and
use this first before opening fridge once power goes
out.
Fill bathtubs with water.
Make sure all vehicles are topped off.
Know where the closest shelter for you and pets is.
Unplug everything.
Do not use tap water after a storm until certain it’s not
contaminated.

28. It’s too late to prepare once the flood is on you.
There will also be a huge run of panicked people buying
many of these same items, so order it now so you have
it ready.
This sounds trite, but after every flood, most people list
these following items as things they wished they’d had
on hand.
Not only for the flood itself, but as importantly, for living
afterwards in the chaos.
What To Have Ready BEFORE

29. Enough for at least three days.
Minimum is one gallon per person, per day.
Double that for warm climates.
8 average 500ml water bottles is just over one gallon.
A case of water (24 bottles) is the minimum three days
supply per person.
I recommend at least two cases per person.
WATER

30. You must have a way of filtering water for
your family. Assume all water you find in
nature is contaminated.
Assume your tap water is contaminated until
it is confirmed otherwise.

31. Non-perishables for three days minimum.
Food that doesn’t require refrigeration.
Don’t have food that will make you thirsty.
Plan for infants and special dietary
requirements.
Keep separate and out of normal food
rotation.
Note expiration dates.
Click on image for a good supply from the
company that made our Long Range
Patrol meals in Special Forces. It’s what
we have on hand and in our grab-n-go
bags.
Also good for camping.
Click on image for link
FOOD

32. I have a variety of ration bars (click on each for
link):
ER Bar
Grizzly Bear Emergency Food Rations
DaTrex 3600
Below are some before going into a ziplock bag
and into my Jeep.
FOOD

33. Being able to see in the dark is key. Batteries tend to be heavy
and get used up but AA/AAA are light and small. Also, with
solar, you can use rechargeable lights. Consider the following
array:
Handcrank light (the one below also has window breaker,
seatbelt cutter, USB cell phone charger); a headlamp for
moving and doing things in camp; and a single AAA light I keep
in a sheath with my Leatherman
Click on images.
Light

34. Power
Smaller Solar Power Gear:
These have lithium batteries which produces more power for the weight.
On the dash of my Jeep, I keep this Solar Charge Pack. Essentially, being
on the dash, it stays fully charged. I keep it in place with Velcro strips.
What’s neat about this particular model is it has three cords built into the
back: micro-USB, Lightning and C. Nothing worse than having power and
no cord. Links to all gear on my web site.

35. Know what the emergency broadcast stations are.
Below is a hand crank radio/flashlight combo I have on
hand and in all my grab-n-go bags. Click on image for
link.
Portable battery/hand crank radio.

36. There are plenty of prepared ones you can buy.
Below is one I have in my house and in my grab-n-go
bags.
Click on image for link.
Make sure you have medications to last a week.
Extra glasses, contacts, etc.
First Aid Kit

37. Power will be out. ATMs won’t work
Store computer systems will have crashed.
It will be a cash environment for a while.
Until it’s a Zombie environment.
I’d have you click on image, but instead, go to your
ATM now.
CASH

38. How to turn off the water coming into the house.
How to turn off the power.
Where the safe spots in the house are.
Where the family IRP- immediate rally point— outside
the house where all will gather is.
Who the out of area emergency point of contact is for
the family.
Everyone in your
household needs to
know:

39. Apps
Family Locator-GPS Tracker for Android.
Emergency Alert System for Apple.
Red Cross Hurricane App for Apple
Red Cross Hurricane App for Android
National Hurricane Center Web Site
Apps are essential for warning, for summoning help
and giving location, and for finding your family and
friends.
Also, remember that a text is more likely to get through
than a voice call.
Click on links on pop up at web site.

40. More Free Information
I constantly update free, downloadable
slideshows like this on my web site for
preparation and survival and other topics.
Use Your Camera on this QR Code

41. More Free Information
Since Slideshare no longer supports links,
I’ve put all the links to free apps, gear and web
pages on my web site at
www.bobmayer.com
Use the pop up from the following image there and
scroll through for what you want:

42. This book walks you through your personal situation,
your home, and your Area of Operations.

43. AMAZON

46. New York Times bestselling author, is a graduate of West Point and
former Green Beret. He’s had over 80 books published, including the
#1 bestselling series Green Berets, Time Patrol, Area 51, and Atlantis.
He’s sold over 5 million books. He was born in the Bronx and has
traveled the world. He’s lived on an island off the east coast, an island
off the west coast, in the Rocky Mountains, the Smoky Mountains and
other places, including time in East Asia studying martial arts.
He was an instructor and course developer/writer for years at the
JFK Special Warfare Center and School which trains Green Berets and
also runs the SERE school:
Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape.
www.bobmayer.com