Alan O says:

Florence is going to cause fresh water flooding from excessive rain. 10+ inches of rain running off hills will collect in low lying areas that are not flood risks according to any map. I say this from experience because our house (Vermont) was flooded by Irene 7 years ago. Water coming off hills near our house was trapped by the roadbed running by the house, overwhelmed the 3-foot culvert, and flooded our yard with 4 feet of water. We ended up with 8 feet of water trapped in our basement after the water receded.

Here are my lessons learned:
– Look at the topography around your house and imagine a couple inches of rain an hour falling for several hours (days?). Keep reading if you are in an area where water might collect.
– Figure out an evacuation route and where you can stay if your house floods. With Irene, the flooding was very localized, so we were able to stay with friends on higher ground.
– Pack irreplaceable items in plastic bins over the next couple of days for a quick exit. You will be moving stuff in the rain if you must leave. Also pack a bag with several days’ worth of clothes. Move things you are leaving behind to the highest level in the house.
– Check with your insurance agent. Most homeowner’s policies do not cover flood damage. Find out how they would like you to document damage if you start cleaning up before the insurance adjuster arrives. Remember that most policies do not cover flood damage, so it is imperative to get the water out as quick as possible.
– Leave before your house floods. If you are thinking “We might flood” it is time to leave. Flood waters will rise very quickly. Our house flooded less than an hour after the water started rising. Turn off the gas and flip the main electric service breaker off on your way out.
– If you are worried about your basement filling with water, go rent a trash pump for a week today. It will cost you a couple hundred dollars but can save you thousands if your basement fills with water. We were able to pump most of the water out of the basement within 8 hours of it flooding because a local construction company dropped of a 4-inch trash pump for us to use. The key to damage limitation is get the water out as fast as possible.
– If you have a fuel tank in your basement try to block it in place if possible. It is going to want to float in the water and your cleanup will become exponentially more expensive if it ruptures.

If you flood it is important to get the moisture out of the house as quick as possible to prevent mold issues. Flood waters are nasty and when the waters recede what is left behind will make you ill. Wear gloves, don’t touch your face with your hands, and use lots of hand sanitizer. If you are pumping water out of your basement, check for foundation damage. Water in the basement can stabilize a damaged foundation. You may need to frame in support before removing all the water to prevent further collapse.

Take pictures of the damage and then start removing anything that was touched by flood waters from the house. Carpets, dry wall, and insulation should be removed as soon as possible to limit mold damage. Leave windows and doors open and get air circulating. Anything touched by flood waters should be thrown away. This includes garden vegetables.

Joey says:

I have family in Biltmore Lake. They have never been thru a hurricane themselves before.