—­Do not stack sandbags around the outside walls of your house to keep flood waters out of your basement.  Water seeping downward through the earth (either beyond the sandbags or over them) may collect around the basement walls and under the floor, creating pressure that could damage the walls or else raise the entire basement and cause it to “float” out of the ground.  In most cases it is better to permit the flood waters to flow freely into the basement (or flood the basement yourself with clean water, if you feel sure it will be flooded anyway).  This will equalize the water pressure on the inside and outside of the basement walls and floor, and thus avoid structural damage to the foundation and the house.

—­Lock house doors and windows.  Park your car in the garage or driveway, close the windows, and lock it (unless you are driving to your new temporary location).

* TRAVEL WITH CARE.  If your local government is arranging transportation for you, precautions will be taken for your safety.  But if you are walking or driving your own car to another location, keep in mind these things: 

—­Leave early enough so as not to be marooned by flooded roads, fallen trees, and wires.

—­Make sure you have enough gasoline in your car.

—­Follow recommended routes.

—­As you travel, keep listening to the radio for additional information and instructions from your local government.

—­Watch for washed-out or undermined roadways, earth slides, broken sewer or water mains, loose or downed electric wires, and falling or fallen objects.

—­Watch out for areas where rivers or streams may flood suddenly.

—­Don’t try to cross a stream or a pool of water unless you are certain that the water will not be above your knees (or above the middle of your car’s wheels) all the way across.  Sometimes the water will hide a bridge or a part of the road that has been washed out.  If you decide it is safe to drive across it, put your car in low gear and drive very slowly, to avoid splashing water into your engine and causing it to stop.  Also, remember that your brakes may not work well after the wheels of your car have been in deep water.  Try them out a few times when you reach the other side.

DURING A HURRICANE

—­If your house is on high ground and you haven’t been instructed to evacuate, stay indoors.  Don’t try to travel, since you will be in danger from flying debris, flooded roads, and downed wires.

—­Keep listening to your radio or television set for further information and advice.  If the center or “eye” of the hurricane passes directly over you, there will be a temporary lull in the wind, lasting from a few minutes to perhaps a half-hour or more. Stay in a safe place during this lull.  The wind will return—­perhaps with even greater force—­from the opposite direction.