The first Groundhog Day was celebrated on Feb. 2, 1887, in Punxsutawney, Penn. according to History.com. The tradition has roots in the ancient Christian celebration of Candlemas, when clergy would bless and distribute candles needed for winter. The candles represented how long and cold the winter would be.

Kirsten Maltese, community preparedness officer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, told St. George News that the early spring could bring challenges amid its beauty.

“We know that spring showers can just bring the most lovely conditions, beautiful morning walks and trips to awesome National Parks, but they can also bring up the potential for flooding,” Kirsten Maltese, community preparedness officer for the FEMA, told St. George News. “Also, those warmer temperatures can reduce the moisture content in our soil, making our region more prone to wildfires.”

In the Western United States, natural disasters like wildfires, floods and other hazards are becoming more frequent and intense. Maltese emphasizes the importance of preparation, urging people to check the weather forecast before heading out and take necessary precautions before and during disasters. She added that one must also have extra shoes and jackets when traveling.

Recent wildfires in the West often leave behind burn scar areas, where the landscape has changed and are more prone to flooding. Maltese reminds people to prepare the three P’s: people, pets and property.

“If you’re ever walking or driving through a flooded area, we always remind you to ‘Turn Around Don’t Drown. Never drive or walk through flooded areas,” Maltese said. “Just six inches of water can actually sweep you away and a foot of water can sweep your car away.”

She added that floodwaters can carry germs and large objects like trees. Maltese said it’s vital to prevent children or pets from walking or playing in flooded water. Underground or downed power lines can also electrically charge the water.

In Southern Utah, flash floods can happen quickly. Maltese advises that if you’re caught outside in a storm shelter immediately, or if driving, pull over or go inside an establishment to wait it out. Also, if needed, get to a higher ground place or return home if safe to travel.

Maltese suggests signing up for local warning systems, such as the Emergency Alert System and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio for emergency alerts. She said also to monitor potential signs such as heavy rain. Learning and practicing evacuation routes, shelter plans and flash flood response is helpful. Visit FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center portal for information.

“The FEMA app on the Google Play Store is completely free, and it allows folks to download up to five locations so they can get alerts and warnings from those areas; you can have it for your hometown to check,” Maltese said. “If you’re traveling out to Utah, visiting the parks or having fun on ATVs or whatever, you can also get the alerts and warnings for that area.”

Maltese said while some floods develop over time, flash floods can occur within minutes after the onset of a rainstorm. Even areas that are not traditionally flood-prone are at risk.

According to the  FloodSmart website, floods are the nation’s most common and costly natural hazard. Flooding can be devastating, whether caused by heavy rain, thunderstorms, or tropical storms.

The site also provided the following tips:

• Gather supplies in case of a storm, strengthen your home against damage and review your insurance coverages.
• Get flood insurance as it typically takes 30 days for a new flood insurance policy to go into effect, so get your policy now.
• Only Flood Insurance covers flood damage; most standard homeowner’s policies do not cover flood damage. Flood insurance is affordable. An average flood policy costs around $600 a year, and rates start at just $129 a year for homes in moderate- to low-risk areas.
• Plan evacuation routes. Keep important papers in a safe, waterproof place. Conduct a home inventory; itemize and take pictures of possessions.

Visitors to Zion National Park are reminded on its website to “plan and be prepared.” The Narrows are susceptible to flash flooding. The website states that flash floods are often caused by storms miles away and can be life-threatening. Hikers should check the weather and monitor for flash flood warnings before their trip. If adverse weather conditions are predicted, slot canyons should be avoided.

“Much of the surrounding area is bare rock that does not absorb water,” the site states. “During storms, runoff is funneled rapidly into the Narrows. The water level rises almost instantly during a flash flood — within seconds or minutes. Flash floods are common in Zion and hikers have been stranded, injured, and even killed by venturing into narrow, flood-prone canyons.”

The park suggests hikers watch for potential warning signs of flash floods, including a deterioration in weather conditions, clouds or thunder, sudden changes in water clarity, floating debris and an increasing sound of water roaring up the canyon. If any of these signs are observed, the site states hikers should immediately seek higher ground as “even climbing a few feet may save your life.”

To see the Virgin River’s current flow, click here. Find National Weather Service flash flood warnings here and weather forecasts here.

Maltese is also the Youth and Adolescent Outreach Program Manager for FEMA Region 8 and helps coordinate the high school awareness programs. Region 8 covers Utah, Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and 29 federally recognized Native American tribes.

She was excited to add that her team was part of a game development team that created and released a new game for high school students. It’s a free resource to teach high school students decision-making in the face of disaster.

“The app is a great resource to teach those high school students about that. It’s completely free. All you need is a computer and access to the internet. And you can play right now; it’s at fema.gov/disaster,” Maltese said.

She said additional preparedness tips can also be found here.