North Texas Flooding Resource List

Tropical Storm Bill has arrived in the North Texas Region and will be dumping buckets of rain of 8 inches or more in specific areas throughout our region. The Red Cross has put together a list of resources for cities around the DFW area.

Arlington: Pick up FREE sandbags in the parking lot of the Traffic Engineering/Public Works Transportation facility at 1011 Main Street, between Cooper and Davis. Personnel will be handing them out Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For more information call: 817-459-5400

Lewisville: The city has an emergency alert system set in place to notify residents of possible disasters in the area. To receive updates click here to be put on the list for up to date information. It also has a preparedness program KnoWhat2Do program for general safety tips during disasters. 

For more information call: 972-219-5012

Denton: The city urges residents to sign-up for CodeRed alerts for emergency notification, click here to be put on the list. 

CodeRED is operated through the National Weather Service and serves many communities in the North Texas Region, click here to find your community. 

Garland: Urges residents of flood damage to call the city at 972-205-2000 Monday through Friday from 8a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also subscribe to Garland's Enews service for general updates, click here to be put on the email list. 

If you need assistance with cleanup from the recent flooding throughout Texas, please call 

1-800-451-1954 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Flower Mound: Subscribe to email updates through the city's website page here.

Grand Prairie: Residents can receive information regarding weather on updates on its website, Facebook and Twitter accounts. The city urges to follow all communication platforms. If an evacuation is issued emergency personal will personally knock on residents doors. 

Mesquite: Citizens can register for Notify Me updates regarding emergencies and other city updates here. 

If you were impacted by the storms and need Red Cross assistance, please call this hotline number:

1-877-500-8645

For more information on Texas Disaster recovery you can visit FEMA's website or TDEM's website. 

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Tips for Dealing with Texas Weather Fatigue

by Carl Manning, Red Cross contributor

The endless images of flooded homes and tornado destruction coupled with repeated warnings of what seems like potential doom and gloom can cause people to feel like the world is closing in and there’s nothing they can do about it.

Recent social media posts in Texas bear witness to a mounting stress among those who have watched the string of severe weather go from days to weeks with no immediate end in sight.

Seriously can't stand this damn Texas weather right now!!!and I officially hate rain now!!!

— Jay Pati (@SamoanSavage37) May 15, 2015

Such reaction to stressful situations are normal, even if you haven’t suffered any personal loss, said Jerry Montgomery, who’s overseeing the Red Cross disaster mental health counselors in Texas. “Stress is stress.  Just because you haven’t  lost your home doesn’t mean you’re not experiencing a lot of stress,” the Michigan City, Ind. volunteer said.

Approximately 45 tornadoes of various strengths have hit Texas in the last month. I am really tired of violent weather here now.

— Melissa Patterson (@melissap5405) May 21, 2015

Often people under stress feel physically and mentally drained, get frustrated more quickly and more often.

Ughh.. I'm tired of this bipolar weather.. #Texas #rain #flood #thunderstorm #tornado

— アニメ 悪魔人 (@Anime73199) May 24, 2015

  
   
But there are some things people can do to cope with events over which they have no control.

For instance, during stressful times it’s important to eat properly and maintain a balanced diet, drink plenty of water and get some rest.

Staying connected with friends and family is important because getting support reduces that feeling of being alone.

Another tip is to be patient with those around you and recognize that everyone is stressed and may need time to put their feelings and thoughts in order.

Remain positive and remember having successfully gone through other tough times and reach out when support is needed and help others when they need it.

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Surviving a Flood

 by Carol Grinage, volunteer contributor

How do you survive a flood? What do you do when the flood warnings that never materialize turn into an actual flood?

If a flood hits your area, stay informed. Listen to your local radio or television to hear what is happening in your area. If you don’t have local radio or television, check the internet or social media sites for the latest information. These sources can tell you how serious the flood is and where to go if you need to seek safety. They can also tell you who to contact if you need help.

Next, get to higher ground. Do not wait. Higher ground will provide you with the protection you need from flood waters. If you wait, you may not be able to reach higher ground because you will be surround by flood waters.

If authorities tell you to evacuate, please obey the evacuation orders. If you are being told to evacuate, you are being told to evacuate for a reason. You may not be able to see the flood where you are located, but the authorities see a wider picture and know what flooding has occurred in surrounding areas and what flooding is heading your way. When you evacuate your home, remember to lock the doors and, if you have time, unplug utilities and appliances.

Remember that water and electricity do not mix, so practice electrical safety. Stay out of flood waters that has electricity in it. How do you know if water has electricity in it? If you see sparks or hear buzzing, cracking or snapping, these are signs that the water has been electrified and that you must not go near it. Also, don’t enter basements or any rooms in which the water covers the electrical outlets because the water could be electrified.

If you have been ordered to evacuate, avoid flood waters. Do not walk through flood waters because even 6 inches of water can knock you off your feet. If you are trapped in moving water, move to the highest point and wait for help.

Also, do not drive through flooded waters or around barricades. Quite often, people get into dangerous situations because it is impossible to see sharp objects, washed out road surfaces, electrical wires or chemicals that may be in the water. In addition, cars can be swept away in seconds. Twelve inches of water can float a car or SUV, and 18 inches of water can carry away large vehicles. So, although flood waters may not appear deep, they can hold a host of dangers.

Although floods don’t appear serious on the surface, they can be quite deadly. Take the time to prepare, and remember what to do if a flood hits where you live.

Download our free Flood App to get up to the minute information on what to do in the event of a flood in your area.

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Red Cross Offers Flood Safety Tips

With a widespread rain event possible in the North Texas area, the American Red Cross is urging families to take precautions now, and offers important safety tips in the event of flash flooding.

• Charge laptops, cell phones, tablets and other electronics in order to get information before, during and after disasters.
• Pack a disaster supplies kit with working flashlights, extra batteries, bottled water, first aid supplies, etc. Click here for a list of items to pack in a supplies kit.
• Listen to area radio and television stations and a NOAA Weather Radio for possible flash flood warnings and reports of flooding in progress or other critical information from the National Weather Service (NWS)
• Be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice.
• When a flash flood warning is issued for your area, head for higher ground and stay there.
• Stay away from floodwaters. If you come upon a flowing stream where water is above your ankles, stop, turn around and go another way. Six inches of swiftly moving water can sweep you off of your feet.
• If you come upon a flooded road while driving, turn around and go another way. If you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around you, get out of the car quickly and move to higher ground. Most cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving water.
• Keep children out of the water. They are curious and often lack judgment about running water or contaminated water.
• Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood danger.
• Bookmark www.redcross.org to learn about shelter locations and other important information.

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Prepare for Flash Flooding in a Flash!

Looking at our forecast for North Texas, no doubt spring is here. Monday and Tuesday have the potential to be severe weather days with the greatest risk calling for Flash Flooding, but tornadoes can't be ruled out. Go ahead and brush up on these flood tips so you'll be ready to take action in a flash. And remember, floods are the costliest and deadliest of all natural disasters. Take no chances with your safety. Turn around. Don't drown.

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