Helpful hints on what to do if you think your historic house might flood.

1. Safety First - no house is worth your life. If your house is in an area prone to deep flooding (like Washington and Aliceanna or Caroline and Lancaster) GET OUT! before the flooding starts.

2. Move your car out of the flood area. It was a sad thing during Hurricane Isabel to hear the car horns go off - as the cars went under water. Move your car north of Eastern Avenue to be safe.

3. Stockpile heavy duty plastic - contractors grade from Home Depot - it's cheap.

Heavy Duty plastic can effectibely waterproof your home in case of flood. At the base of your doors on the outside of you house - cut a piece of plastic about 1-2 feet wider than your door. Lay the plastic so that it covers the threshold above and below and to the side by several feet. Secure the plastic with sandbags - if you have them - or bricks or stones - anything heavy thant will not float. Once the water rises - the water pressure will hold the plastic in place and help make it water tight.

4. The greatest flood trick ever - insulating foam!! Insulating foam is great for doors and windows - just close the door and squirt the expanding foam into the gap between the door and the jamb - VOILA - a water tight seal. Now just don't open the door.

5. Stockpile drinking water, flashlights and candles - you know the electricity will go out!

6. A generator is a tremendous help, if you can get one (because you know the electricity will go out.) If the electritiy goes out - your sump pump won't work!

7. Close and secure your shutters if you have them. You may want to remove them, if you can't close them.

8. Remove anything from your property that could become airborne - garbage cans, wood, planters, etc. If the wind gets bad - these items will become MISSILES causing a lot of damage.

9. Help your neighbors. Do you have an elderly or invalid neighbor - help them out. Check on them after the storm.