The following safety tips and advice came directly from the American Red Cross.

How to Prepare for a Flood

• You will likely hear weather forecasters use these terms when floods are predicted in your community:
• Flood/Flash Flood Watch—Flooding or flash flooding is possible in your area.
• Flood/Flash Flood Warning—Flooding or flash flooding is already occurring or will occur soon in your area.
• You’ll be better prepared to withstand a flood if you have the following items available – packed and ready to go in case you need to evacuate your home
• Water—at least a 3-day supply; one gallon per person per day
• Food—at least a 3-day supply of non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food
• Flashlight [Available on the Red Cross Store]
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible) [Available on the Red Cross Store]
• Extra batteries
• First Aid kit [Available on the Red Cross Store]
• Medications (7-day supply) and medical items (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, cane)
• Multi-purpose tool
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items
• Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, deed/lease to home, birth certificates, insurance policies)
• Cell phone with chargers
• Family and emergency contact information
• Extra cash
• Emergency blanket
• Map(s) of the area
• Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers)
• Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl)
• Tools/supplies for securing your home
• Extra set of car keys and house keys
• Extra clothing, hat and sturdy shoes
• Rain gear
• Insect repellent and sunscreen
• Camera for photos of damage

Responding Appropriately During a Flood

• Listen to area radio and television stations and a NOAA Weather Radio for possible 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 flood or 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.
• Because standard homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover flooding, it’s important to have protection from the floods associated with hurricanes, tropical storms, heavy rains and other conditions that impact the U.S. For more flood safety tips and information on flood insurance, please visit the National Flood Insurance Program Web site at FloodSmart.gov.

Flood Recovery Tips

• Return home only when officials have declared the area safe.
• Before entering your home, look outside for loose power lines, damaged gas lines, foundation cracks or other damage.
• Parts of your home may be collapsed or damaged. Approach entrances carefully. See if porch roofs and overhangs have all their supports.
• Watch out for wild animals, especially poisonous snakes that may have come into your home with the floodwater.
• If you smell natural or propane gas or hear a hissing noise, leave immediately and call the fire department.
• If power lines are down outside your home, do not step in puddles or standing water.
• Keep children and pets away from hazardous sites and floodwater.
• Materials such as cleaning products, paint, batteries, contaminated fuel and damaged fuel containers are hazardous. Check with local authorities for assistance with disposal to avoid risk.
• During cleanup, wear protective clothing, including rubber gloves and rubber boots.
• Make sure your food and water are safe. Discard items that have come in contact with floodwater, including canned goods, water bottles, plastic utensils and baby bottle nipples. When in doubt, throw it out!
• Contact your local or state public health department to see if your water supply might be contaminated. You may need to boil or treat it before use. Do not use water that could be contaminated to wash dishes, brush teeth, prepare food, wash hands, make ice or make baby formula!

Adults and children alike have worked hard all year to be extra good and earn a spot of Santa’s Nice List in hopes of receiving wonderful surprises in their stockings and presents under the Christmas tree, and now Christmas Eve is less than 10 days away! With excitement and wonder filling the hearts and minds of friends and family this holiday season, make preparing for Santa’s visit a part of your Christmas tradition with a few tips:

Make sure there are no tripping hazards on the floor

Make sure that toys, shoes, and other small items are picked up off the floor so Santa won’t trip. We don’t want Santa to get hurt and he doesn’t want to wake us up!

Hang your Christmas stockings

Santa loves stockings and fills them with lots of treats and small gifts. To ensure that your stocking doesn’t fall, please hang your stocking using command hooks or strings such as twine, thread, ribbon or clear fishing line. We don’t encourage nails as that leaves holes. Stockings also do not need to be hung from fireplaces. They can be hung anyplace sturdy enough to hold a couple of pounds- deck railings, bed posts, the back of kitchen chairs, etc. As a side note, don’t forget to hang a stocking for your pet! Santa loves your whole family!!!

Leave a snack for Santa

Cookies_and_milkSanta has a very busy night and needs to keep his energy up! Sort of the same reason moms tells us to eat our dinner. Anyways, Santa loves cookies and milk, but also eats a variety of other tasty treats depending on what part of the world he is visiting. For example, Denmark families leave a sweet rice pudding called Risengrod. Swedish families leave coffee. In Chile, families leave a ginger sponge cake sweetened with honey called pan de Pascua. An in England and Australia, families leave sherry wine and mince pie to keep him feeling warm.

Don’t be surprised if Santa only takes a bite of the goodies you left for him. He cannot possibly finish all the food and drinks left by each family across the world!

Leave a snack for Santa’s nine reindeer

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph love apples, carrots, celery, hay, and cookies (sugar, oatmeal or peanut butter cookies are preferred as chocolate gives reindeer terrible gas!)

Other Santa Questions

How does Santa fit in the chimney?

Simply put, Christmas magic. Christmas magic builds throughout the year from three The most magic comes from acts of kindness. The second is being selfless and grateful, and the third comes from the joy of giving.

What if you don’t have a chimney?

It has been estimated that 60% of homes in the US do NOT have a chimney so Santa uses the magical Christmas key to unlock any door. Rumor has it that Mrs. Claus and the elves prefer it when he uses the Christmas key because chimneys are rather dirty and Santa is rather portly.

How will Santa find us if we aren’t at our home?

Santa keeps track of each child year-round to determine whether he or she has been naughty or nice so it comes as no surprise that he knows where each child will be for Christmas.

Christmas is a wonderful time of year, and we look forward to spending time with our family. Having said that, we would like to let our friends and supporters know that we will be CLOSED December 25- December 27.