Mecklenburg County Officials Announce Four-Step Plan for Flood Safety Ahead of Severe Weather Week

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office will mark March 1-7 as Severe Weather Preparedness Week. Both agencies released a four-step plan to help people protect themselves when floods hit.

Floods pose the greatest natural danger here. Just six inches of moving water can knock down an adult. A foot? That's enough to carry off a vehicle.

Step one tells people to check whether their house sits in the floodplain by visiting StormWater.CharMeck.org and clicking the 3D Flood Zone Map. Standard homeowners and renters insurance won't cover flood damage, so those at risk should purchase flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program.

Step two asks people to make a plan with everyone in their household. Each person should know what to do, where to meet, and what supplies they'll need when floodwaters threaten. Ready.gov/Plan offers tools for creating an emergency plan. Don't forget pets.

The third step means building a kit for staying put or leaving home. The Emergency Management Office provides lists of what to pack.

Step four pushes people to monitor weather conditions as they change. Signing up for CharMeck Alerts gets you timely emergency information, including flood warnings. Local media and the National Weather Service also provide updates worth tracking.

"We've seen firsthand the devastating effects flooding can have on our area," said Don Ceccarelli, director of Mecklenburg County Storm Water Services per the city's website. "While we can't always predict when severe weather will strike, we can take simple steps to protect ourselves when it does."

Officials urge people to leave if authorities order evacuations. Never walk or drive into rising water. Turn back. After floodwaters recede, anyone with major flood damage should call 311.

Staff members from both agencies will be available for interviews on Monday, March 2, at 10 a.m. at the Emergency Operations Center, 500 Dalton Ave. They'll discuss severe weather, flood safety tips, and how to sign up for emergency notifications.