How Texans can prepare for flooding

The East Texas town of Livingston was underwater most of Thursday. And Texans across the region — including northern Harris County, the state's most populous — were bracing for an extended deluge with levels of water that rival Hurricane Harvey.

Gov. Greg Abbott expanded the state's disaster declaration Thursday afternoon to now cover 88 counties at risk for severe weather and flooding. The National Weather Service said extreme river flooding was expected into next week in Central and East Texas.

Here's how Texans can prepare for potential flooding in their area, and what they should do in the event of a flood.

How to prepare for flooding

• Develop a household evacuation plan to know where to meet up if separated. Check emergency routes and emergency shelters near you.
• Gather all important documents and special items in waterproof bags, or store electronic copies. You can also take a video of your home to document all belongings.
• Prepare an emergency kit in case of an evacuation including medical, tool and safety supplies, food and household needs.
• Most home insurance policies do not cover flood related losses. Consider getting flood insurance for your home.
• Flood proof your home by regularly cleaning gutters and drains, install water alarms with battery backup and stockpile protective materials like plywood, plastic sheeting, and sandbags. Waterproof basement areas and consider elevating rooms susceptible to flooding.

What to do in case of flooding

• Follow evacuation orders from local authorities and take an emergency kit with you.
• Avoid walking or driving through flood waters. Just six inches of water can make a person fall, while one foot of water is enough to sweep up a vehicle during a flood.
• Shut off your home’s main circuit breakers to prevent appliance short circuits and the threat of electrocution.
• Make a plan for your pets and take them with you in case of an evacuation.
• If flood waters rise around your vehicle, abandon the vehicle and move to higher ground. If you are stuck in a flooded area, also look for a higher space away from flood waters. Stay off bridges over fast-moving water.
• Be careful in areas where flood waters have receded, and watch out for debris or electrically charged standing water. Stay away from all bodies of water and electric lines near you.
• Stay informed and prepared. A flash flood watch means that conditions are favorable for flooding. A flash flood warning means that flash floods will occur or are happening in the warning area.