FLOODING:
Preparing for a Flood Even
if You’re NOT in a Flood Zone
Prepare to be a Blessing Before, During, After a Potential
Local Flood
Some Resources to Help you to Prepare for a Potential
Flood
Learning
to Hide Under the Shelter of His Wings
Preparing
for a Flood Even if You’re NOT in a Flood Zone
As you are probably all aware, some of you in the Lower Mainland may be in
local flood zones and have likely been to some of your local Flood Watch or
Flood Groups to discuss with your neighbours, etc. what can be done to help
prepare for a flood and to help you prepare for potential evacuation. These
groups probably have also helped you to find out about how to go about restoring
things after a potential flood, etc.
However, many people do not seem to be aware that flooding can also potentially
greatly affect others in the Lower Mainland, even if they are NOT in flood
zones.
Some of those ways could include the following (and there may be other things
I forgot to mention or am not aware of):
+ water supplies may become very muddy or toxic – so you might wish to
stock up on some bottled water or other clean water resources; this could
also mean needing to find a place to dispose of waste for a time - instead
of using regular toilets, etc.?
+ food supplies may not be able to get
to your region – so there have been suggestions of stocking up for at
least 2 weeks of groceries for your family, if possible
+ job access may be difficult or impossible
for some – so alternate routes may need to be considered, AND you may
need to consider this possibility financially
+ electricity may be affected – which
also needs to be considered on various fronts – ie. fridges/freezers,
heaters/fans, employment interruptions, banking interruptions, might need
to use a gas stove or BBQ for awhile if electric stoves are not working for
a bit, etc.?
+ communications may be affected
+ people potentially stranded on islands
or various low-lying regions, etc.
+ other services and supplies might be
interrupted
+ transportation may be affected
+ finances may be stretched
+ mail might get lost/destroyed if en route
Etc.
Of course a major aspect of preparing for a potential flood, whether it might
directly affect your property or not, is to pray and to be as prepared as
the Lord wants us to be in spirit, soul, body and however else He leads.
Another way to prepare is to also:
CONTENTS
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Prepare to be a Blessing Before,
During, After a Potential Local Flood
In Genesis we are told that Abraham and the people of God were BLESSED TO
BE A BLESSING. That has always been His plan for His people.
It is often in these times of upheaval that we come to experience God more
deeply in His many dimensions, as well as a time when we have our priorities
shifted, when we learn that we DO need each other, and that we are often able
to reach out to the lost in ways and to levels that we had not perhaps had
available to us earlier. God so often reaches many hearts during these times.
Many have been asking God for revival/renewal/restoration for many years….perhaps
this is one of the things God is wanting to use to help bring this about?
It is certainly a major trust issue for many/most of us, I imagine!
Following are a few thoughts to start with:
+ Provide a place/places to stay temporarily
+ Provide a place/places for people to
bring their pets so they can get them afterwards
+ Help with sandbagging once at that point
+ Help with rescuing people
+ Help provide food, water, clothing, etc.
as needed
+ Help folks to locate their family members
– there is a place noted in the resources, below, where people can register
in order to be able to connect with their loved ones in such an event
+ Help with clean-up
+ Care for disabled people
+ Perhaps pooling finances/resources/material
goods with others in the network, etc. to help some people rebuild their lives
as the Holy Spirit leads
+ Perhaps there are some that would like
to work together with their local Emergency Response Teams to help in some
of these ways? And/or perhaps to work together with others from the network
in similar ways in their regions if the Holy Spirit leads that way?
Etc.
May the Holy Spirit lead you to act by the power of His Spirit as you hear
what He’s saying, see what He’s seeing and do what He’s doing…
CONTENTS
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Some Resources to Help you to Prepare for a Potential
Flood
Residential Flood Preparedness
http://www.surrey.ca/Living+in+Surrey/Emergency+and+Protective+Services/NEPP/Fraser+River+Freshet+Advisory+and+Preparedness+Information/Residential+Flood+Preparedness/default.htm
Lower Fraser Flood Activation Levels – 2007 Flood Preparation Phases
http://www.surrey.ca/Living+in+Surrey/Emergency+and+Protective+Services/NEPP/Fraser+River+Freshet+Advisory+and+Preparedness+Information/Lower+Fraser+Flood+Activation+Levels.htm
Business Flood Preparedness
http://www.surrey.ca/Living+in+Surrey/Emergency+and+Protective+Services/NEPP/Fraser+River+Freshet+Advisory+and+Preparedness+Information/Business+Flood+Preparedness/default.htm
Self-Help Guide
http://www.surrey.ca/Living+in+Surrey/Emergency+and+Protective+Services/NEPP/Fraser+River+Freshet+Advisory+and+Preparedness+Information/Residential+Flood+Preparedness/Self+Help+Guide.htm
Before the Flood
Evacuation
Before Moving Back In
First Steps in Clean Up
Emergency Social Services Flood Plan
http://www.surrey.ca/Living+in+Surrey/Emergency+and+Protective+Services/NEPP/Fraser+River+Freshet+Advisory+and+Preparedness+Information/Residential+Flood+Preparedness/Emergency+Social+Services+Flood+Plan.htm
Emergency Contact Info
http://www.surrey.ca/Living+in+Surrey/Emergency+and+Protective+Services/NEPP/Fraser+River+Freshet+Advisory+and+Preparedness+Information/Emergency+Contact+Information.htm
Canadian House Church Resource Network