What to do long before a flood
(adapted from http://www.floodsmart.gov ):
Purchase flood insurance
A standard homeowners insurance policy does not cover flooding. If you live in a 100-year floodplain, there is a 26% chance that your home will flood during the life of a 30-year mortgage; each year there is at least a 1% chance of flooding. The City of Athens is a member in good standing in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), so flood insurance for any property within the city can be purchased through an insurance agent. To find an agent near you call 1-800-427-2419. It takes 30 days for a newly purchased policy to go into effect, so do not wait to buy flood insurance.
Determine your property's ground level elevation
Determine the elevation of your property at ground level and the elevation of the lowest floor of your property (these will be two different numbers if you have a basement below ground or if your property is elevated above the ground). The easiest way to do this is to check with the Department of Development, Enforcement and Facilities at 740-592-3306 to see if there is an elevation certificate on file. If not, you can call a surveyor to determine the elevation for a fee. With the elevation, you will be able to determine if your home will be flooded at given flood stages. For example: In Athens, a river stage of 25 feet is equivalent to flooding at an elevation of 636.26 ft above sea level (NGVD 1929) (because the river gauge is located at 611.26 ft (NGVD 1929)). If a river stage of 25 feet is predicted, and the elevation of your property at ground level is below 636.26 ft (NGVD 1929), you should plan for evacuation. However, if your lowest floor is above 636.26 ft, you may not need to move any possessions from the lowest floor (or conversely, you may need to move possessions from the basement if it is below 636.26 ft). Also of interest is the elevation of your street. The Department of Development, Enforcement and Facilities also have maps which show the street elevations for most of the streets within the 100-year flood plain in Athens. Note: if the lowest floor of your property is elevated above the base flood elevation (BFE), you may request that FEMA remove your property from the official floodplain through a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). This will allow you to purchase flood insurance at a lower rate. See http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/ot_lmatxt.shtm for more information.
Plan for evacuation
Plan and practice a flood evacuation route, ask someone out of the flood-prone area to be your "family contact" in case people are separated, and be sure everyone knows the contact's address and phone number.
Correct local drainage issues
Local drainage issues can cause as much flooding damage as riverine flooding. Make sure gutters and downspouts are in good working order, and that yards are graded to allow runoff to reach appropriate drainage sites.
Retrofitting
Changes can be made to a structure to prevent or minimize flooding. The most effective changes are: elevation of a structure above the base flood elevation (BFE), dry flood-proofing (designing floors and walls to be waterproof), wet flood-proofing (allowing floodwater to enter the home through vents or openings, but designing all utilities/appliances to be elevated at least 12 inches above the BFE), and sewer/sump back up prevention measures. Contact an insurance agent and/or download the detailed manual Engineering Principles and Practices for Retrofitting Flood Prone Residential Buildings at http://www.fema.gov/hazard/flood/pubs/lib259.shtm to learn more about the retrofitting measures which will work best for your situation.
Keep important papers out of flood-prone areas
Keep insurance information and other important documents in an accessible, dry place, such as a safe deposit box.
Have emergency supplies on hand to last for at least three days
Food, bottled water, first aid supplies, medicines, flashlights and a battery-operated radio with extra batteries should be ready to go.
Take photos or videos of important possessions
If your home is damaged in a flood, documentation will help you in filing a flood insurance claim.
Keep sandbags and concrete blocks available
These (or other such materials) can be used for emergency water proofing (sandbags) and raising appliances and furniture (concrete blocks).
Consider basement windows and sump pumps
If flooding is significant, it may be better to turn off sump pumps, open windows, and allow floodwaters into the basement during a flooding event. Otherwise, the water pressure on the walls could cause the walls to collapse. However, if the flooding is minimal (less than a few inches), it may be better to keep windows closed and sump pumps on to keep floodwaters out of the basement. Check with your insurance agent ahead of time about the specifics of your insurance policies to determine which plan is better for you.
