Tips On Preparing For Floodingtearsheets.yankton.net/march10/031910/ypd_031910_main_005.pdf ·...
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BY SHARON GUTHMILLER Extension Educator Floods are a common natural disaster. All floods are not alike. Regardless of the cause of flood- ing, disaster planning and prepa- ration will mitigate the impact and enhance response and recovery. There are several sim- ple steps an individual or family can take to plan and prepare for flooding. 1. Get a kit. Regardless of the disaster, every individual and family should have a disaster kit. In case of flooding, the kits should be portable and water- proof, should evacuation be nec- essary. For detailed information see Get a Kit-Ready. America web site to learn how to prepare a kit. Be sure to have all legal documents kept at home secured in one place, should evacuation be necessary. Have cash on hand and plan for finan- cial needs as well as physical needs for food and water. 2. Make a plan. Where will you and your family be when a disaster strikes? How will you contact each other? Or, if sepa- rated, where will you reunite? Take time to make a plan. The best way to do this is to hold a family meeting to prepare a com- munication plan. 3. Be informed. Preparing an emergency kit and developing a communication plan are the same for natural and man-made disasters. Need for shelter would be the variable, depending on type of disaster. There are key steps one can take to reduce the risk of flood damage. Those steps include knowing the flood risk. Call your local emergency management office, building department or floodplain management office for information about flooding. Ask to see a flood map of your com- munity. There may be a project- ed flood elevation for your neighborhood. This information may be found on a community web site. This information will help you determine required preparation. The following information will help begin a check list for preparing for flooding. Check the sump pump. Clean the sump pump and pit. Test the pump by pouring water into the pit. Consider having a spare sub- mersible sump pump. Be certain the discharge hose delivers the water several feet away from the house to a well-drained area that slopes away from the house. If the hose outlet is too close the house foundation or on flat ground, the water may simply recycle down through the house drain tile. Do not run sump pump water into a rural septic system because the water may saturate the drain field. Within a city, discharging sump pump water into the sanitary system may overload the system, cause sewage backup, and may be illegal. Move valu- able items to higher loca- tions. Move items such as irre- placeable family photo albums, high school yearbooks, personal videotapes, tax records, insur- ance policies and household inventories to high shelves or an attic. Make copies and store them in another location not likely to flood. Sewer backup often occurs when storm water enters the sanitary sewer and causes an overload of water in the system. The overloaded system begins to backflow into household lines, causing sewer water to enter basements. One way to prevent sewer backup in your home is to plug or cap all sewer openings in the basement. This includes floor drains, toilets, sinks, show- ers, etc. After lifting toilets and removing sink traps, openings can be capped with wooden plugs, expandable plugs or by other methods. Most washing machines and basement sinks have drain connections about three feet above the floor and may not overflow if the water doesn’t get that high. If neces- sary, these drains can be discon- nected, capped or plugged with expandable plugs or braced rub- ber balls. For protection against shallow flood waters, the washer and dryer can sometimes be ele- vated on masonry or lumber at least twelve inches above the flood elevation to keep the motors above the water level. Be sure appliances are shut off at the fuse box or breaker panel. If high water is imminent and large appliances cannot be moved, wrap them in polyethylene film, tying the film in place with cord or rope. The water will still get in, but most of the silt will not making clean-up easier. Even if floodwaters do not reach electrical outlets, the risk of electrical shock to someone working in a flooded basement is high. Electric motors are housed in the furnace, freezer, washer, dryer and other appliances. Shut off all electrical breakers or unscrew fuses. Do not stand in water while turning off electrical switches. Stand instead on a block of wood or a plastic crate that doesn’t conduct electricity. Teach adults and older children where electric fuse boxes, water service mains and natural gas mains are and how to turn them off. In some instances, flooding may be so sudden or severe that substantial property damage cannot be avoided. However, tak- ing time to being informed and prepared can help ease response time and recovery. For more complete information regarding Flooding: Planning and Preparation and Flooding: Response and Recovery access Extension information through the eXtension web site www.extension.org/pages/Floods Thought: Swallowing angry words is always easier than eat- ing them. Sharon Guthmiller is a Yankton County Extension educator special- izing in family and consumer sci- ences. Tips On Preparing For Flooding SHARON GUTHMILLER www.yankton.net PAGE 5A Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan ■ LIFE ■ Friday, March 19, 2010 Yankton Mall Jenna Bietz and Brandon Auch were united in marriage Saturday, August 15, 2009, at the Resurrection Lutheran Church in Mitchell, SD, with Rev. John Hansen officiating. Parents of the couple are Francis and Karen Froehlich and Jerry Bietz, Tripp, SD, and Steve and Kathy Auch, Lesterville, SD. Grandparents are Marie Froehlich, Hartford, SD, Idella Bietz, Tripp, SD, Glenn and Joan Sazama, Osmond, NE. Bietz-Auch Maid of honor was Sarah Permann. Bridesmaids included Nikki Jarabek, Sara Coyle, Raquel Bietz and Brittany Auch. Best man was Jeremy Syrovatka. Groomsmen included Aaron Auch, Bryan Bietz, Chad Bietz and Ryan Auch. Honorary ring bearer was Ashton Bietz. Ushers were Brett Maag and Casey Perman. Personal attendants were Brittany Maag and Emma Coyle. The reception and dance were held at the Highland Conference Center in Mitchell, SD. Jenna is a 2009 graduate of Dakota Wesleyan University with an Associates degree in Nursing. She will graduate from DWU this May with her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. She currently works as a Registered Nurse at Avera Brady Health and Rehab in Mitchell, SD. Brandon is a 2009 graduate of Mitchell Technical Institute with a degree in Electrical Construction and Maintenance. He currently works for Muth Electric in Mitchell, SD. The couple resides near Mitchell, SD. Arnold and Shirley (Damme) Stelling will celebrate their 45 th wedding anniversary on Friday, March 19, 2010. The couple’s family requests a card shower. Greetings may be sent to: 121 Dayton Lane, Tabor, SD 57063. The couple has two children: Troy (Kristen) Stelling and Amy (John) Olson and two grandchildren: Zachary and Micah Stelling. Mr. & Mrs. Stelling March 19, 1965-March 19, 2010 45 th Anniversary Koller-Smith Brandy Kay Koller and Brett Arthur Smith were united in marriage on the 17 th of October 2009. The couple was married during an outdoor ceremony on Lake Herman at Camp Lakodia in Madison, South Dakota, with Larry Thranum officiating. The parents of the bride are Mike and Holly Eisenmenger and the late Robert Koller. The parents of the groom are Jerry and Sharon Smith. The couple lives and works in Yankton, South Dakota. Easter Eggs Are Poppin’ Put a spin on a classic popcorn treat to cre- ate something colorful for your Easter table. We’ve added sugar-free gelatin to our basic popcorn ball recipe for an egg-citing array of flavors and olors. Try two or three of your favorite flavors, mix in a handful of jellybeans and you’re in for a tasty, eye-popping treat. You won’t want to hide these eggs! POPCORN EASTER EGGS Yield: 16 eggs • 10 cups freshly popped popcorn • 1 cup pastel colored jelly beans • 1/4 cup butter or margarine • 1 package (10 1/2 oz.) miniature marshmallows • 1 package (3 oz.) blueberry, strawberry or lemon gelatin Combine popcorn and jelly beans in large bowl; set aside. Microwave butter and marshmallows in large glass bowl on HIGH for 2 minutes or until marsh- mallows are puffed. Stir in gelatin. Pour marshmallow mixture over popcorn and jelly beans. Mix lightly until coated. Shape into 16 (2-inch) eggs with greased hands. Make it a family project. Get creative with this hands-on sweet treat. Kids love the feeling of slippery, buttery hands, which you will need to prevent the popcorn from sticking to your hands. Unlike food coloring, the color of the gel- atin does not come off on your hands. Choose a solid color and form into an egg shape. Decorate with jellybeans if desired. Or, take a small amount of popcorn from each colored batch and mix together to create vivid master- pieces. The nutritional bonus: Popcorn is a whole grain food and is a great way to add fiber to your diet. The gelatin in this recipe is a source of protein. How To Grow Popcorn You’ll need popcorn kernels which can be purchased from most seed catalogs for home gardeners. You might also have luck growing pop- corn from your local supermarket, but pick the plain popcorn kernels; microwave popcorn will not work. You’ll also need a plastic bag or glass jar, paper towels, water and soil. Soak a few paper towels in water and place them in a plastic bag or glass jar. Then place a few kernels in the bag or jar so they sit on top of the paper towels. Place the bag/jar where it can get plenty of sunlight--at least 6 hours a day--and where it can be kept reasonably warm at all times. The kernels should sprout and grow over the next few weeks. If the towels get too dry, water them again. Once you see the popcorn seeds sprouting, plant them in a pot with soil. Keep the soil moist. GROWING POPCORN Once all threat of late spring frosts is gone and the soil is thoroughly warmed you can transplant your seedlings to the garden (wait at least 10-14 days after the last spring frost). The popcorn kernels will need rough- ly 90 days to mature. Since popcorn can cross-pollinate with other vari- eties of corn (sweet and field) care must be taken to plant them far enough apart, either by physical space or time of plantings. Corn vari- eties should be planted 250 feet apart or, for those of us with normal size gardens, plant them at least 14 days apart. Leave popcorn in the garden until the stalks and husks are brown and dry. When you can no longer leave a mark on the kernel with your finger- nail, it's time to harvest. Twist and snap each ear from the stalk. Do this before the frost hits. To prepare pop- corn for indoor curing, carefully strip away the dried husk from each ear. The kernels will be partially dried or "cured," a necessity for long-term stor- age. Besides drying on the stalks, pop- corn requires another four to six weeks of thorough drying in a warm, well-ventilated place. Place the ears in mesh bags or spread them out in an area where they'll have warm air circulating around them. You can also hang mesh bags full of popcorn ears in your garage for about four weeks. After cur- ing, hang the bags of corn in a cool, dry place. The corn can keep for years in the cool, dry, dark conditions. After a month of curing, the kernels can be taken off the ears and stored in airtight jars. Whether you're removing the kernels before storage or just before popping, there's no real trick to it. Simply grasp the ear firmly in both hands and twist until the kernels drop out. Photos and Story courtesy of the Popcorn Board. www.popcorn.org FOR MORE POPCORN HINTS VISIT, WWW.POPCORN.ORG PHOTOS AND RECIPIES COURTESY OF THE POPCORN BOARD
Transcript of Tips On Preparing For Floodingtearsheets.yankton.net/march10/031910/ypd_031910_main_005.pdf ·...
BY SHARON GUTHMILLERExtension Educator
Floods are a common naturaldisaster. All floods are not alike.Regardless of the cause of flood-ing, disaster planning and prepa-ration will mitigate the impactand enhance response andrecovery. There are several sim-ple steps an individual or familycan take to plan and prepare forflooding.
1. Get a kit. Regardless of thedisaster, every individual andfamily should have a disaster kit.In case of flooding, the kitsshould be portable and water-proof, should evacuation be nec-essary. For detailed informationsee Get a Kit-Ready. Americaweb site to learn how to preparea kit. Be sure to have all legaldocuments kept at homesecured in one place, shouldevacuation be necessary. Havecash on hand and plan for finan-cial needs as well as physicalneeds for food and water.
2. Make a plan. Where willyou and your family be when adisaster strikes? How will youcontact each other? Or, if sepa-rated, where will you reunite?Take time to make a plan. Thebest way to do this is to hold afamily meeting to prepare a com-munication plan.
3. Be informed. Preparing anemergency kit and developing acommunication plan are thesame for natural and man-madedisasters. Need for shelter wouldbe the variable, depending ontype of disaster.
There are key steps one cantake to reduce the risk of flooddamage. Those steps includeknowing the flood risk. Call yourlocal emergency managementoffice, building department orfloodplain management office forinformation about flooding. Askto see a flood map of your com-munity. There may be a project-ed flood elevation for yourneighborhood. This informationmay be found on a communityweb site. This information willhelp you determine requiredpreparation.
The following informationwill help begin a check list forpreparing for flooding. Check thesump pump. Clean the sumppump and pit. Test the pump bypouring water into the pit.Consider having a spare sub-mersible sump pump. Be certainthe discharge hose delivers thewater several feet away from thehouse to a well-drained area thatslopes away from the house. Ifthe hose outlet is too close thehouse foundation or on flatground, the water may simplyrecycle down through the housedrain tile. Do not run sumppump water into a rural septicsystem because the water may
saturate thedrain field.Within a city,dischargingsump pumpwater into thesanitary systemmay overloadthe system,cause sewagebackup, andmay be illegal.
Move valu-able items tohigher loca-
tions. Move items such as irre-placeable family photo albums,high school yearbooks, personalvideotapes, tax records, insur-ance policies and householdinventories to high shelves or anattic. Make copies and storethem in another location notlikely to flood.
Sewer backup often occurswhen storm water enters thesanitary sewer and causes anoverload of water in the system.The overloaded system beginsto backflow into household lines,causing sewer water to enterbasements. One way to preventsewer backup in your home is toplug or cap all sewer openings inthe basement. This includesfloor drains, toilets, sinks, show-ers, etc. After lifting toilets andremoving sink traps, openingscan be capped with woodenplugs, expandable plugs or byother methods. Most washingmachines and basement sinks
have drain connections aboutthree feet above the floor andmay not overflow if the waterdoesn’t get that high. If neces-sary, these drains can be discon-nected, capped or plugged withexpandable plugs or braced rub-ber balls. For protection againstshallow flood waters, the washerand dryer can sometimes be ele-vated on masonry or lumber atleast twelve inches above theflood elevation to keep themotors above the water level. Besure appliances are shut off atthe fuse box or breaker panel. Ifhigh water is imminent and largeappliances cannot be moved,wrap them in polyethylene film,tying the film in place with cordor rope. The water will still getin, but most of the silt will notmaking clean-up easier.
Even if floodwaters do notreach electrical outlets, the riskof electrical shock to someoneworking in a flooded basement ishigh. Electric motors are housedin the furnace, freezer, washer,dryer and other appliances. Shutoff all electrical breakers orunscrew fuses. Do not stand inwater while turning off electricalswitches. Stand instead on ablock of wood or a plastic cratethat doesn’t conduct electricity.Teach adults and older childrenwhere electric fuse boxes, waterservice mains and natural gasmains are and how to turn themoff.
In some instances, flooding
may be so sudden or severe thatsubstantial property damagecannot be avoided. However, tak-ing time to being informed andprepared can help ease responsetime and recovery. For morecomplete information regardingFlooding: Planning andPreparation and Flooding:Response and Recovery accessExtension information throughthe eXtension web sitewww.extension.org/pages/Floods
Thought: Swallowing angrywords is always easier than eat-ing them.
Sharon Guthmiller is a YanktonCounty Extension educator special-izing in family and consumer sci-ences.
Tips On Preparing For Flooding
SHARONGUTHMILLER
www.yankton.net PAGE 5AYankton Daily Press & Dakotan ■ LIFE ■ Friday, March 19, 2010
Yankton Mall
Jenna Bietz and Brandon Auch wereunited in marriage Saturday, August 15, 2009, at the Resurrection Lutheran Church in Mitchell, SD, with Rev. John Hansen officiating.
Parents of the couple are Francis and Karen Froehlich and Jerry Bietz, Tripp, SD, and Steve and Kathy Auch, Lesterville, SD. Grandparents are Marie Froehlich, Hartford, SD, Idella Bietz, Tripp, SD, Glenn and Joan Sazama, Osmond, NE.
Bietz-AuchMaid of honor was Sarah Permann.
Bridesmaids included Nikki Jarabek, Sara Coyle, Raquel Bietz and Brittany Auch.
Best man was Jeremy Syrovatka. Groomsmen included Aaron Auch, Bryan Bietz, Chad Bietz and Ryan Auch. Honorary ring bearer was Ashton Bietz.
Ushers were Brett Maag and Casey Perman. Personal attendants wereBrittany Maag and Emma Coyle.
The reception and dance were held at the Highland Conference Center in Mitchell, SD.
Jenna is a 2009 graduate of Dakota Wesleyan University with an Associates degree in Nursing. She will graduate from DWU this May with her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. She currently works as a Registered Nurse at Avera Brady Health and Rehab in Mitchell, SD.
Brandon is a 2009 graduate of Mitchell Technical Institute with a degree in Electrical Construction and Maintenance. He currently works for Muth Electric in Mitchell, SD.
The couple resides near Mitchell, SD.
Arnold and Shirley (Damme)
Stelling will celebrate their 45th
wedding anniversary on Friday,
March 19, 2010.
The couple’s family requests a
card shower. Greetings may be
sent to: 121 Dayton Lane, Tabor,
SD 57063.
The couple has two children:
Troy (Kristen) Stelling and Amy
(John) Olson and two
grandchildren: Zachary and
Micah Stelling.
Mr. & Mrs. Stelling
March 19, 1965-March 19, 2010 45 th Anniversary
Koller-Smith
Brandy Kay Koller and Brett Arthur Smith
were united in marriage on the 17th of
October 2009.
The couple was married during an
outdoor ceremony on Lake Herman at Camp
Lakodia in Madison, South Dakota, with
Larry Thranum officiating.
The parents of the bride are Mike and
Holly Eisenmenger and the late Robert
Koller.
The parents of the groom are Jerry and
Sharon Smith.
The couple lives and works in Yankton,
South Dakota.
Easter Eggs ArePoppin’
Put a spin on a classic popcorn treat to cre-ate something colorful for your Easter table.We’ve added sugar-free gelatin to our basicpopcorn ball recipe for an egg-citing array offlavors and olors. Try two or three of yourfavorite flavors, mix in a handful of jellybeansand you’re in for a tasty, eye-popping treat. Youwon’t want to hide these eggs!
POPCORN EASTER EGGSYield: 16 eggs
• 10 cups freshly popped popcorn • 1 cup pastel colored jelly beans • 1/4 cup butter or margarine • 1 package (10 1/2 oz.) miniature marshmallows • 1 package (3 oz.) blueberry, strawberry or lemongelatin
Combine popcorn and jelly beans in large bowl;set aside.
Microwave butter and marshmallows in largeglass bowl on HIGH for 2 minutes or until marsh-mallows are puffed.
Stir in gelatin. Pour marshmallow mixture overpopcorn and jelly beans.
Mix lightly until coated. Shape into 16 (2-inch) eggs with greased hands.
Make it a family project. Get creative withthis hands-on sweet treat. Kids love the feelingof slippery, buttery hands, which you will needto prevent the popcorn from sticking to yourhands. Unlike food coloring, the color of the gel-atin does not come off on your hands. Choose asolid color and form into an egg shape.Decorate with jellybeans if desired. Or, take asmall amount of popcorn from each coloredbatch and mix together to create vivid master-pieces.
The nutritional bonus: Popcorn is a wholegrain food and is a great way to add fiber toyour diet. The gelatin in this recipe is a sourceof protein.
How To Grow Popcorn You’ll need popcorn kernels which
can be purchased from most seedcatalogs for home gardeners. Youmight also have luck growing pop-corn from your local supermarket,but pick the plain popcorn kernels;microwave popcorn will not work.You’ll also need a plastic bag or glassjar, paper towels, water and soil.
Soak a few paper towels in waterand place them in a plastic bag orglass jar. Then place a few kernels inthe bag or jar so they sit on top ofthe paper towels. Place the bag/jarwhere it can get plenty of sunlight--atleast 6 hours a day--and where it canbe kept reasonably warm at all times.
The kernels should sprout andgrow over the next few weeks. If thetowels get too dry, water them again.Once you see the popcorn seedssprouting, plant them in a pot withsoil. Keep the soil moist.
GROWING POPCORNOnce all threat of late spring frosts
is gone and the soil is thoroughlywarmed you can transplant yourseedlings to the garden (wait at least10-14 days after the last spring frost).The popcorn kernels will need rough-ly 90 days to mature. Since popcorncan cross-pollinate with other vari-eties of corn (sweet and field) caremust be taken to plant them farenough apart, either by physicalspace or time of plantings. Corn vari-eties should be planted 250 feet apartor, for those of us with normal sizegardens, plant them at least 14 daysapart.
Leave popcorn in the garden untilthe stalks and husks are brown anddry. When you can no longer leave amark on the kernel with your finger-nail, it's time to harvest. Twist andsnap each ear from the stalk. Do thisbefore the frost hits. To prepare pop-corn for indoor curing, carefully stripaway the dried husk from each ear.The kernels will be partially dried or"cured," a necessity for long-term stor-age.
Besides drying on the stalks, pop-corn requires another four to sixweeks of thorough drying in a warm,
well-ventilated place.Place the ears in mesh bags or
spread them out in an area wherethey'll have warm air circulatingaround them. You can also hang meshbags full of popcorn ears in yourgarage for about four weeks. After cur-ing, hang the bags of corn in a cool,dry place. The corn can keep for yearsin the cool, dry, dark conditions.
After a month of curing, the kernelscan be taken off the ears and stored inairtight jars. Whether you're removingthe kernels before storage or justbefore popping, there's no real trick toit. Simply grasp the ear firmly in bothhands and twist until the kernels dropout.
Photos and Story courtesy of the PopcornBoard. www.popcorn.orgFOR MORE POPCORN HINTS VISIT, WWW.POPCORN.ORG
PHOTOS AND RECIPIES COURTESY OF THE POPCORN BOARD
