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Senator Faber’s
Weekly Newsletter
Flood
risk and actions you can take; Prepare for Cold Water
Understanding Your Flood
Risk and Actions You Can Take
ODNR — National Flood Awareness Week, March 14-20, is an excellent time
for Ohioans to determine their local flood risks, according to the Ohio
Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Soil and Water
Resources. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
publishes flood maps for the purpose of identifying areas at risk of
the 1-percent-annual-chance flood, or base flood.
If you are interested in viewing the floodplain maps for your area
contact your local floodplain administrator or visit FEMA’s Map Service
Center, http://msc.fema.gov.
These maps are the basis for the flood zone determinations that banks
(and other lenders) use to determine who needs to purchase flood
insurance. In terms of local floodplain management programs, possession
and use of the appropriate FEMA floodplain map(s) and Flood Insurance
Study is a participation requirement for all communities in the
National Flood Insurance Program.
Carrying flood insurance is one of the easiest ways a homeowner,
renter, business owner or community can mitigate, or lessen, the
affects of property damage associated with high water, according to the
Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
A
flood insurance policy can be written to cover structures, contents of
structures, or structures and contents combined. Any licensed property
or casualty insurance agent can write a flood insurance policy.
Although most flood insurance policies are written by local agents, the
policies are underwritten by the National Flood Insurance Program of
the federal government. Individual communities must participate in the
program for flood insurance to be made available. In Ohio, more than
700 municipalities, as well as 86 of the 88 counties participate in the
National Flood Insurance Program.
If you want to learn more about flood insurance, visit FloodSmart.gov.
At this site, you will be able to find a local agent, learn additional
flood facts, assess your flood risk, and file a claim.
Anglers and Boaters Should
Prepare for Cold Water Temperatures
ODNR-- The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has good advice
for the thousands of anglers who soon will be wading in and boating
upon frigid waterways in hopes of landing a prize catch—dress for the
water temperature instead of air temperature.
“Recreational boaters and anglers are among those most at risk of
sustaining hypothermia due to a cold water immersion if they are not
dressed properly for the water temperature,” said Pamela Dillon, chief
of the ODNR Division of Watercraft. “Boating and fishing safety begins
with the choices people make before getting on the water; it is
critical to take steps to reduce the risks of hypothermia exposure at
this time of year.”
Hypothermia is a condition in which body temperature drops below normal
due to exposure to cold temperatures and requires medical treatment.
Unexpected immersion into cold water can result in drowning and often
contributes to hypothermia for those persons who are unprepared for
extremely cold water.
People are usually inclined to dress for the air temperature instead of
water temperature when enjoying outdoors recreation on or near the
water. Generally, the water temperatures of Ohio’s waterways remain
bone chilling and are very slow to warm during March, April and early
May.
The
following are some safety tips to help reduce exposure to the risks of
hypothermia while boating and fishing:
· Dress for the current water
temperature and not the air temperature when boating in early spring.
Wear layers of protective clothing including neoprene, polypropylene,
wool, synthetic fleece and Goretex. Avoid 100 percent cotton and denim
garments, such as blue jeans, sweatshirts and flannel shirts. The final
layer of protective clothing should always be a U.S. Coast Guard
approved life jacket or vest.
· Carry a cell phone inside a
plastic bag in case an emergency should arise.
· Avoid alcohol consumption
to help prevent the onset of hypothermia symptoms.
· Avoid capsizing and
swamping by ensuring that boats are not overloaded, but are properly
loaded and balanced before leaving the launch ramp or dock.
· Properly and safely anchor
a boat from the bow when using a single line.
File a float plan with a person of responsibility so that assistance
may be requested if boaters are significantly overdue in their return
from the water.
Additional information on boating safety tips and education programs
may be found online at www.ohiodnr.com/watercraft or by following the
Division of Watercraft on Facebook or Twitter. You may also call
toll-free (in Ohio only) 1-877-4BOATER.
Visit the ODNR Web site at ohiodnr.com.
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