Floods don’t wait for city hall. A simple 2-hour neighborhood drill—done right—can turn strangers into a response team with muscle memory. Below is a complete, copy-paste plan you can run this weekend: roles, timelines, checklists, SMS templates, and a couple of handy calculators so you know how many sandbags and pumps you’d really need.
Safety First
Keep people out of moving water and confined spaces. Mark “no-go” zones with cones/flags, wear gloves/eye protection, and keep a first-aid kit at Check-In. If weather turns or a real event starts, pause and follow local guidance.
2-Hour Drill Timeline (Minute-by-Minute)
| Time | Action | Owner | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–10 | Check-In opens; sign-in, armbands; assign roles. | Check-In Lead + 2 | Roster, role tags, SMS test |
| 10–20 | Street walk: low spots, drains, alley inlets, stairwells. | Recon Team | Hazard pins on map |
| 20–35 | Drain clearing demo; tool safety; bag debris. | Ops Lead | Cleared inlets, debris staged |
| 35–55 | Sandbag line: fill, tie, pass, lay 1-ft mock barrier. | Sandbag Captain | 20–40 practice bags |
| 55–70 | Pump setup: hoses, power, backflow, GFCI talk. | Water Team Lead | “Dry-plumbed” pump path |
| 70–85 | Basement protection: door dams, plastic, contents elevation. | Property Protection Lead | Threshold seal demo |
| 85–95 | Comms tree activation: SMS phone tree + radios. | Comms Lead | Delivery % + gaps |
| 95–110 | Tabletop scenario: “6 inches in 2 hours” + “blocked drain.” | Drill Director | Decisions on worksheet |
| 110–120 | Hot-wash: what worked, what didn’t; assign follow-ups. | Director + Scribe | Action list + shared folder |
Roles (ICS-Light)
Core Leads
- Drill Director: timing, safety, decisions
- Operations Lead: drains, sandbags, pumps
- Comms Lead: SMS tree, radios
- Logistics Lead: tools, chargers, cones
- Safety Officer: PPE, first aid
Task Teams
- Recon: low spots, clogged inlets
- Sandbag Line: fill, tie, pass, stack
- Water Team: pumps, hoses, discharge
- Property Protection: door dams, plastic, bins
- Check-In & Scribe: roster, photos, notes
Quick Headcount → Role Allocator
Supplies & Staging
Tools
- Flat shovels, rakes, brooms
- Utility knives, duct tape, zip ties
- Extension cords w/ GFCI, hose clamps
- Traffic cones, safety vests, headlamps
Flood Gear
- Sandbags + fill station (chute/sawhorse)
- Pumps, suction/discharge hoses
- Plastic sheeting, threshold dams, absorbent socks
- Bins with lids for contents elevation
PPE & Admin
- Work gloves, eye protection, N95s
- First-aid kit, water, snacks
- Roster, sharpies, role armbands
Sandbag Estimator
Pump Capacity Calculator
SMS / Radio Comms Tree
| Level | Who | How | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Director → Leads | Group SMS + radio | Start/Stop, injects, safety notes |
| 2 | Leads → Captains | SMS | Tasking, location, supply needs |
| 3 | Captains → Members | SMS / in-person | Meet point, tool list, next step |
SMS Templates
Kickoff “FLOOD DRILL 10:15—Check-In at 3rd & Pine. Bring gloves. Reply YES.”
Inject “Inject: Blocked drain at 4th alley. Recon photo + ETA to Ops.”
All-Clear “Drill complete. Hot-wash at Check-In. Drop tools & debrief.”
Block Map & Hazards
Mark These
- Low points, swales, alley dips
- Storm drains/inlets (number them)
- Basement stairwells/areaways
- Past flood lines (neighbors’ memory)
- Power/gas shutoffs (note location only)
Color Code
- Red: No-go zones
- Orange: Work sites
- Grey: Staging/first aid
- Blue: Pump & discharge routes
Hot-Wash: Convert Practice into Readiness
| Gap Found | Fix | Owner | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not enough hoses/GFCI | Buy 2 hoses + 1 GFCI cord | Logistics Lead | Friday |
| Slow sandbag fills | Build chute; schedule practice | Sandbag Captain | Next Saturday |
| Missing radio chargers | Label/charge plan + spares | Comms Lead | Wednesday |
This drill is intentionally simple but realistic, enough to build muscle memory without burning people out. Run it quarterly, rotate roles, and keep improving the checklists and gear based on your hot-wash notes.
