MOLINE, Ill. — Many of you may have had a notification pop up on your News 8 app about a River Flood Warning near the Quad Cities area, but do you know what that means exactly?
River flooding is when rivers are expected to crest above the flood stage. The warning will last until the river falls below the flood stage, which can take several days.
The flood stage is different for each river. In Rock Island, for example, the Rock River flood stage is 12 feet and the flood stage for Wapsipinicon River is 11 feet. The Mississippi River flood stage at Rock Island is 13 feet.
When River Flood Warnings are issued, they are in effect for the immediate surrounding areas of the river and are based on various points where the National Weather Service and United States Geological Survey have gauges to measure the waterway’s stage.
When a Flood Warning is issued, that means act!! That's because the weather event is imminent or already happening. With Flood Warnings in place, it is best to avoid the roads and campgrounds that are mentioned above.
If you see water on the road, remember: “Turn around don’t drown." If you live near Rock River in Joslin and you have unprotected agricultural land, get it protected.
Actions you can take pre-flood are getting flood insurance, knowing your flood risk where you live, taking household inventory, and storing important documents in a dry location such as a watertight safety deposit box.
Other steps you can do to minimize your flood losses are:
- Elevate and anchor utilities.
- Waterproof your basement.
- Clear debris from gutters.
- Elevate or move your furniture.