AMES, Iowa — Floods are one of the most common, and most costly, natural disasters. Preparing for flood situations can minimize injury to yourself and your family and speed the recovery process. These resources will help you prepare and recover from flooding situations.
- All-Hazards Booklet — From the Center for Food Security and Public Health at Iowa State University, this 100 page booklet was developed as a resource for citizens of rural agricultural communities. The booklets’ four sections contain an overview of a particular hazard and several informational handouts in a check list format to help guide individuals in preparing for a particular hazard before it occurs, during the event, and recovering from the situation.
- Flood Information – North Dakota State University Extension resources: Before the Flood, During the Flood, After the Flood, and Steps to Reduce Flood and Water Damage.
HOTLINES
- Iowa Concern Hotline: 800-447-1985
Help and referrals for dealing with stress, crisis and loss in times of disaster. - Teenline — 800-443-8336 Available all hours, all days. Personal and health-related information and referral.
WEATHER MAPS AND REPORTS
National Weather Service – precipitation maps
FARM
Crops – Integrated Crop Management News – crop updates
Livestock
BUSINESS
The Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) at Iowa State University has resources to help Iowa businesses plan, prepare and protect their operations.
- How to deal with flooding — checklists and guidelines
- It’s a Rainy Day. Does Your Business Have a Plan? (CIRAS Newswire, 3/13/19)
- Did You Know — Emergency Management/Disaster Preparedness? (CIRAS Newswire, 3/13/19)
CLEAN UP AFTER FLOODING
- Storm Recovery Guide — information on safety and household cleanup after tornadoes, floods and other disasters. This guide was created by LSU AgCenter and edited by Iowa State University Extension experts for use in Iowa.
- Resources for Your Flooded Home — information to help you get your life back to normal after a flood. The guide was compiled by University of Missouri Extension
- First Steps to Flood Recovery — provided by the Extension Disaster Education Network
- U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans – SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and most private nonprofit organizations. SBA disaster loans can be used to repair or replace the following items damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster: real estate, personal property, machinery and equipment, and inventory and business assets.
- Making Choices About Cleaning Wet Carpet – Disaster Recovery Series (Iowa State University Extension)
- Inspect Flood-Damaged Appliances – Disaster Recovery Series (Iowa State University Extension)
MOLDS
- A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home — provides information and guidance for homeowners and renters on how to clean up residential mold problems and how to prevent mold growth; from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Questions? Call AnswerLine at 800-262-3804 or email answer@iastate.edu
- Hiring Contractors After a Disaster — outlines what to look for in a reliable contractor and offers a worksheet for selecting and hiring contractors
- Creating a Healthy Home: A Field Guide for Clean-up of Flooded Homes — tells how to clean up after flooding, but does not describe how to rebuild. By Enterprise Community Partners Inc. and the National Center for Healthy Housing, this guide is meant for do-it-yourselfers and contractors who need to clean up mold in flooded homes before starting to rebuild or renovate
- Repairing Your Flooded Home — gives step-by-step advice for clean up, rebuilding and getting help after a flood; by the American Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Assessing, Repairing and Rebuilding Basements — a series of ISU Extension publications available to download in PDF format
- Flood Cleanup: Avoiding Indoor Air Quality Problems — discusses problems caused by microbial growth, as well as other potential effects of flooding, on long-term indoor air quality and the steps you can take to lessen these effects with emphasis on residential flood cleanup
- Recovery for Home Landscaping — (09/2011) outlines what to consider when beginning the process of recovering trees, shrubs, perennials, lawns and vegetable gardens
— Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
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