Flood Safety

• Don’t drive through a flooded area. More people drown in cars than anywhere else. The water depth and road condition are always unknown. Vehicles can be swept away in only 18 to 24 inches of water.
• Don’t walk through flood waters. Flood currents are also deceptive. Adults can be swept off their feet in only 6 inches of water.
• Avoid electrical lines and equipment. Electrocution is the second leading cause of death during floods. Turn off power at your service panel. Electrical current will travel through flood water.
• Be alert to gas leaks. Turn off gas to your house before a flood. If you smell gas, report it to your gas company and avoid open flames.
• Don’t use gas engines or fires indoors during power outages. These pose risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and house fires.
• Clean anything that has been wet. Flood water will be contaminated with sewage, oil, gasoline, and a variety of chemicals that pose severe health risks.
• Always cooperate with emergency officials and rescue personnel. You can replace personal belongings, but you can't replace someone's life.

For more information about flood safety, visit the Turn Around Don't Drown campaign website.

Flood Warnings

Moline does not have a flood warning system in place. Some floods resulting from heavy rains upstream may be predictable in advance and enable residents to prepare or evacuate. However, flash floods resulting from heavy local rains and runoff aren’t as predictable. The city encourages its residents to listen to local news radio and television stations for flood warnings and prepare accordingly. Residents can also monitor local river levels online courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website.