Emergency assistance 24 hours a day may be obtained by calling the County Public Assistance Center at 691-2131. Tell them the kind of flooding and whether there are live electrical outlets/appliances in the flooded area.

Main shut off valve for your home's water line is important for family members to know: where located and how to operate. Some recom-mend labeling the handle conspicuously, attaching a pair of "vice-grip" pliers so even the children can turn it off in an emergency, and turning it off before leaving on vacation. In a pinch, water can be turned off outside at the meter (twist valve 90°). The water remaining in the pipes can be drained by opening a faucet downstairs.

Sewer drain backup problems coming from outside your house, call the County Department of Public Works at 323-1211. More commonly, such problems are caused by blockage within the house and are your responsibility to fix or call a plumber to fix. Storm drain backup problems may be reported to the same department at 246-2406.

Electric power outage for an extended time sometimes can result in flooding from shutdown of sump pumps. Also, in homes with oil-heated hot water systems, the cooling of the boiler water jacket can result in leakage. If boiler leakage occurs, turn off the furnace power switch, turn off the feed valve to the boiler and open the drain valve (at the bottom of the boiler) with a garden hose attached leading to a drain. (Ater refilling the system, check that each zone is zone is heating properly and purge the air from any zones that are not. Your heating contractor can check this during the annual cleaning such furnaces should have to retain their efficiency.)

In new houses less than two years old, if foundation damage such as cracking or bowing occurs, call the County Code Enforcement Board at 324-1937.

Insurance. The National Flood Insurance Program, of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, offers affordable flood insurance at 1-800-638-6620.