Prepare Yourself for a Flashbr Flood With These Tips.br It is not uncommon forbr people to underestimatebr the danger of flash floods.br While some may assume it'sbr nothing more than a bit of water...br ... flash floods are actually extremely powerful and canbr occur with little to no warning following a heavy storm. .br They can overwhelm rivers, streamsbr and man-made water containment systems,br making roads impassable, uprooting treesbr and causing power outages. .br As little as six inches of flood water can knock a personbr over and as little as 12 inches can move a car. .br Here are eight tips to help preparebr yourself and your family for a flash flood. .br 1. Sign up for some sort of alert system so that youbr can know of any flood threats as soon as possible. .br 2. Create an emergency plan and practice it sobr that everyone fully understands their role in it. .br 3. Make sure to regularly maintain your sump pump.br 4. Always listen to first responders.br If they advise you to do something,br such as not venture out into floodbr waters, follow their instructions.br 5. Prep a survival kit with somebr sort of light source, a first aid kit,br high-energy food bars and plentybr of drinking water.br 6. Make sure to regularly clean out any blockagesbr in your gutters and downspouts.br 7. Move important items that are in the basement tobr higher ground: such as the attic or on lofted shelving. .br 8. Consider purchasing flood insurance and creating abr written and photographic inventory of your property.