The long-term damage of Hurricane Harvey is being assessed with 450,000 people expected to file for some sort of disaster relief, according to FEMA chief Brock Long said.
Houston and other areas in Texas have already experienced massive flooding while Louisiana is expected to take on significant rain as well.
But what should people do if they encounter flooded waters whether at home or in their vehicle. FEMA and the Red Cross give the following tips.
* LIsten to area radio and television stations along with a NOAA Weather Radio for critical information.
* Be prepared to evacuate.
* If you get to water that is above your ankles, turn around and head another way. If you drive on a road that is becoming flooded, turn around.
* 6 inches of moving water can knock a person down, while 1 foot of moving water can carry a vehicle.
* Do not drive over bridges with fast-moving floodwaters. Floodwaters can make a bridge unstable.
* Move to higher ground if flash flooding occurs.
* If floodwaters rise around the car, but the water is not moving, abandon the car and move to higher ground. If the water is moving, do not leave the car.
* Avoid walking or driving through flooded waters.
* Do not wade in floodwaters. Such waters could have wild animals, including poisonous snakes.
* Watch for downed power lines. Do not step in puddles or standing water when there are power lines down.
* If you smell natural or propane gas or hear a hissing noise, leave immediately and call the fire department.
* If your home was damaged by floodwater, approach entrances carefully. Supports could be damaged.
* When cleaning up, wear rubber gloves and rubber boots.
* Discard food items that have come into contact with floodwater, including canned goods and water bottles.
Google has created a map to show evacuation resources for flooding caused by Harvey.
