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Flooding resources available to Big Island residents

MEDIA RELEASE

As winter storms deluge parts of the Big Island, the county floodplain management program reminds residents of resources to help them prepare for and recover from floods.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) publications on how to protect yourself and your home are available online at the FEMA Web site
(www.fema.gov/hazard/flood/index.shtm).

“Are You Ready? An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness,” FEMA’s most comprehensive source on individual, family, and community preparedness, can be downloaded at www.fema.gov/areyouready.

FEMA publications available at Big Island libraries include Design Guidelines for Flood Damage Reduction, Coastal Construction Manual, Floodproofing Non-Residential Structures and Answers to Questions About the NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program).

For more information about the National Flood Insurance Program, purchasing flood insurance and to determine your risk of flooding, see www.floodsmart.gov.

Another online resource with tips to help you prepare for possible flooding is the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org). In its Hurricane Preparedness Guide, the Hawaii County Civil Defense includes lists for creating home survival and evacuation kits that also work for other types of flooding. Log onto the National Weather Service (www.weather.gov/alerts) for flood watches and warnings.

How do you cope with a flooded home or property? These downloadable publications and Web sites provide helpful information:

* After a Flood: The First Steps (FEMA L-198) provides Information for
homeowners on preparedness, safety, and recovery from a flood
(www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1684).

* Repairing Your Flooded Home (FEMA 234) is a 60-page booklet prepared by FEMA and the Red Cross on how to perform simple home repairs after flooding, including cleaning, sanitation, and determining which professionals to involve for various needed services (www.redcross.org).

* Hawaii State Civil Defense Disaster Recovery
(www.scd.state.hi.us).

The county is developing flood prevention awareness programs including a new Web site as part of a community rating system to reduce flood insurance premiums for Big Island businesses and residents.

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