Flood Safety Preparedness Week Begins Today

(ATLANTA) – The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS), in partnership with the National Weather Service (NWS), will recognize March 9–13 as Flood Safety Preparedness Week. This initiative encourages all Georgia residents and visitors to educate themselves on how to prepare for potential flooding in advance.

“Flooding is one of the most frequent and costly natural hazards we face in Georgia, and it can happen anywhere, not just near rivers and streams,” said GEMA/HS Director Josh Lamb. “Flood Safety Preparedness Week is an important reminder that taking simple steps now, like creating a plan, building a ready kit, and understanding weather alerts, can make a life-saving difference. We encourage every Georgian to stay informed, respect the power of floodwaters, and never attempt to drive through flooded roads.”

Nationally, ten large-scale flooding events have been recorded as "Billion-Dollar Disasters" in the last eight years. Georgia remains vulnerable to these high-impact events, experiencing flooding from tropical storms, rising rivers, and intense thunderstorms. Flood Safety and Preparedness Week (FSPW) offers a vital chance to educate residents on flood hazards and necessary protective measures for their businesses, families, and residences.

Flood Safety Preparedness Week showcases a different theme each day raising awareness about flooding risks while offering residents the opportunity to discover effective safety strategies.

Monday, March 9 – Flood Safety and Awareness : Create a plan, build a ready kit and communicate with your household and community so you’re prepared in case of a flood.

Tuesday, March 10 – Turn Around, Don't Drown : Never attempt to drive through floodwaters. Two feet of moving water can carry away a full-sized car.

Wednesday, March 11 – Types of Floods : The most common cause of flooding is water due to rain and/or snowmelt that accumulates faster than can be absorbed by soil or carried away by rivers.

Thursday, March 12 – NWS Services : Take time to understand the products and services NWS provides to update on changing weather and river conditions, including the new Flood Inundation Mapping (FIM) services, which will cover Georgia in Fall 2025.

Friday, March 13 – NWS Partner Services : Get ahead of the next disaster by knowing the important players before, during and after floods -- including flood insurance. Many homeowner's policies don't cover floods. Be financially ready for a flood event by visiting fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program and remember, flood insurance takes 30 days to go into effect!

For more information and resources, visit gema.georgia.gov/plan-prepare/ready-georgia or https://www.weather.gov/ffc/flood_preparedness .

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As part of the Office of the Governor, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency collaborates with local, state and federal governments in partnership with private sector and non-governmental organizations to protect life and property against man-made and natural emergencies. GEMA/HS’s Ready Georgia website and preparedness campaign provides Georgians with the knowledge needed to effectively prepare for disasters. Go to gema.georgia.gov/plan-prepare/ready-georgia for information on developing a custom emergency plan and Ready kit.