Earlier in August, two people died in Connecticut during a flash flood caused by a storm that ripped up the East Coast. The month before that, flooding from the remnants of a hurricane killed two others in Vermont.

As climate change makes extreme weather more common, intense rainfall will increase, too. Fatalities from these events often come from the fast flowing, heavy flooding they produce.

Knowing what to do when flooding strikes can mean the difference between safety and peril. ecoRI News recently spoke to Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) floodplain coordinator Morgan Reilly and chief of information Courtney Marciano to find out how to prepare for and react to flooding.

Sign up for weather alerts

Turning notifications on for cell phones is the easiest way for most people to keep up with flood watches, advisories, and warnings, Reilly said.

iPhone users can turn on notifications within their weather app, while those with an Android can turn them on in their notification settings.

Individuals can also sign up for CodeRED, which can send text messages or make phone calls on landlines to warn about incoming weather.

“It gives everybody sort of the opportunity to have, in real time, an alert come out,” Marciano said.

Marciano also noted that RIEMA updates its social media pages whenever it receives warnings from the National Weather Service (NWS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

In a small state like Rhode Island, Reilly said, even word of mouth can help, whether that’s checking in with neighbors when a big storm is coming or making small talk about potential flooding at Dunkin’ Donuts.

“If you know that there’s rain coming, try to just be aware,” Reilly said. “Pay attention.”

Prepare before the storm

Even without knowing a heavy rain is coming, there are some preparations all Rhode Islanders can and should take that can help keep them safe when a big storm hits.

“We’re a coastal state, it’s almost inevitable that at some point, you know, if you’ve lived in Rhode Island for 20 years, you’ll probably have seen flooding in your area,” Reilly said.

Even living outside a designated FEMA flood zone, there’s still flooding risk, especially as weather patterns shift due to climate change, she added.

Keep important items and documents up high. (Marciano said her mother’s wedding album barely survived the March 2010 floods. It was in her parents’ basement, which had never flooded before, stacked on top of something else. “So it was saved. But like, the end edges of the pages got … a little bit funky.”)

Create a “go bag” that includes things like a first aid kit, food, water, and a flashlight. Pet owners should also think about including items their furry family members might need, too, Reilly said.

Have a plan for how to evacuate the house and where to meet up with family.

When flooding hits, head to high ground

When a flood or flash flood warning alert dings, get out of low-lying areas.

That means leaving the basement or bottom floors of homes when possible. Although moving to higher ground within a home is a good idea, Reilly said not to go to an attic or space that doesn’t have adequate access to a roof, where you may need to get to for rescue.

When driving, get off highways and main roads and to higher elevations.

In a car or on foot, avoid moving or standing water. Reilly advises: “Turn around, don’t drown.”

“You don’t know how deep that water is,” said Reilly, explaining that less than 2 feet of moving water can lift a truck, and just 6 inches can knock a person off their feet.

“You won’t know what’s in that water,” she added, such as downed power lines, sharp objects, or hazardous chemicals.

Stuck in a vehicle? Use SWOC.

There are times when turning around and getting to higher ground in a vehicle might be difficult or impossible, Reilly said.

If drivers and passengers can stay in their vehicle, they should.

But if water is rising inside the car, Reilly said to use the acronym, SWOC, which stands for “Seat belts. Windows. Out. Children.”

Spelling it out a little more, she explained the steps: Take the seat belts off, lower or break windows, get out immediately, get children out first.

Stay on the roof of the car, if possible, out of the water and where rescue workers will more easily spot you.

According to NWS, most flood-related drownings happen to people driving — so remembering SWOC can be a lifesaver.

Listen to the experts

Marciano said she’s seen hesitance from some locals who, because they’ve lived through big storms unscathed, assume they’ll make it through the next, no problem.

“People have to take it seriously,” she said of extreme weather and warnings.

“If it’s super extreme and you’re being told to evacuate, people need to listen,” she added. “I think that’s a huge thing that we try to get people to understand. We’re not doing this to inconvenience you.”

Marciano said RIEMA is working on a more robust outreach program geared toward how people can be prepared and react to extreme weather, not just flooding.

It would include annual training, she said. “This is something that we want to constantly be having a conversation about.”