Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa concludes with flash flooding as Friday’s topic, which Washington County Emergency Management Coordinator Marissa Reisen believes could be a cause for concern this spring.

Flash floods generally occur within about six hours or less after a rain event, and while Washington County has been in moderate drought for the last several weeks, Reisen doesn’t rule out the possibility of flash flooding, “We’re still in drought conditions that have carried over since last summer and we haven’t gotten much snow. So in the event when spring starts rolling around, if we have a lot of heavy rains the ground will not absorb it as quickly and that’s one of the conditions that leads to flash flooding.”

In preparation for a flooding event, Reisen encourages home owners to ask their insurance agent about coverage from the National Flood Insurance Program, and catalog your belongings with photos and such to keep in a safe place. During a flood event Reisen advises to avoid walking through floodwaters, and if you drive to a flooded area, turn around and go another way. If your car stalls, abandon it immediately and climb to higher ground. Listen to a two-part Halcyon House Washington Page with Reisen about Severe Weather Awareness Week online at kciiradio.com.