Where to Find Emergency Announcements and Information

• Watch weather reports through local media.
• Emergency messages can come through The Emergency Alert System (EAS) (on television and radio), a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio
• Falls Church Alerts will warn of immediate danger. If we can’t reach you, we can’t alert you. Sign up and customize your alerts to receive various weather, traffic, and general emergency preparedness information. www.fallschurchva.gov/Alerts.
• Subscribe to the City’s news releases: www.fallschurchva.gov/Newsroom.
• Check the City’s website homepage, www.fallschurchva.gov, and subscribe to News Flash updates (www.fallschurchva.gov/Subscribe).
• During a weather emergency, the City will activate www.fallschurchva.gov/Storm and update with the latest information.
• Follow the City on Facebook (www.facebook.com/CityOfFallsChurchGov) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/FallsChurchGov).
• Subscribe to the Focus on Falls Church weekly newsletter, www.fallschurchva.gov/Focus.

Preparing for a Flood

• Know Your Risk for Floods. Visit FEMA's Flood Map Service Center to know types of flood risk in your area.
• Look for emergency messages through The Emergency Alert System (EAS) (on television and radio), a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio, and Falls Church Alerts.
• Purchase or renew a flood insurance policy. Homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover flooding. It typically takes up to 30 days for a policy to go into effect so the time to buy is well before a disaster. Get flood coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
• Make a plan for your household, including your pets, so that you and your family know what to do, where to go, and what you will need to protect yourselves from flooding. Learn and practice evacuation routes, shelter plans, and flash flood response. Gather supplies, including non-perishable foods, cleaning supplies, and water for several days, in case you must leave immediately or if services are cut off in your area.
• Keep important documents in a waterproof container. Create password-protected digital copies.
• Protect your property. Move valuables to higher levels. Declutter drains and gutters. Install check valves. Consider a sump pump with a battery.

Staying Safe During a Flood

• Evacuate immediately, if told to evacuate. Never drive around barricades. Local responders use them to safely direct traffic out of flooded areas.
• Contact your healthcare provider If you are sick and need medical attention. Wait for further care instructions and shelter in place, if possible. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.
• Look for emergency messages through The Emergency Alert System (EAS) (on television and radio), a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio, and Falls Church Alerts.
• Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters. Turn Around. Don’t Drown!
• Stay off bridges over fast-moving water. Fast-moving water can wash bridges away without warning.
• Stay inside in your car is trapped in rapidly moving water. Get on the roof if water is rising inside the car.
• Get to the highest level if trapped in a building. Only get on the roof if necessary and once there signal for help. Do not climb into a closed attic to avoid getting trapped by rising floodwater.
• If the City’s Emergency Routes are activated, follow the routes and directions from law enforcement.

Staying Safe and Cleaning Up After a Storm

• Pay attention to the City’s communication tools (Falls Church Alerts, website, Facebook, and Twitter) for information and instructions. Return home only when authorities say it is safe.
• Avoid driving except in emergencies.
• Wear heavy work gloves, protective clothing and boots during clean up and use appropriate face coverings or masks if cleaning mold or other debris.
• People with asthma and other lung conditions and/or immune suppression should not enter buildings with indoor water leaks or mold growth that can be seen or smelled. Children should not take part in disaster cleanup work.
• Be aware that snakes and other animals may be in your house.
• Be aware of the risk of electrocution. Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water. Turn off the electricity to prevent electric shock if it is safe to do so.
• Avoid wading in floodwater, which can be contaminated and contain dangerous debris. Underground or downed power lines can also electrically charge the water.
• Use a generator or other gasoline-powered machinery ONLY outdoors and away from windows.
• Call your insurance company, if you have not already done so, to report damage.
• If any gas appliances were exposed to floodwaters, do not attempt to either relight or disconnect them by yourself. Contact Washington Gas: 1-844-WASH-GAS (1-844-927-4427), Option 1
• The Virginia State Bureau of Insurance has staff specifically trained to handle disaster insurance questions and problems. Their website also has free consumer guides on what to do after an insured commercial or home property loss. Virginia State Bureau of Insurance: 1-877-310-6560; www.scc.virginia/gov/boi.