Keep your most-valuable items dry in a flood
Keep your most-valuable items dry in a flood
Strong storms and high winds often cause flooding, even in areas that are not prone to such an event. Weather conditions have become extreme and regions that were once deprived of water can now encounter heavy rainfall in a single day. Therefore, it is important that everyone knows how to react to an event such as a flood.
Although such “acts of God” can occur at any point, you can use a number of preventative measures to help to protect your home against flash floods.
Make sure the water does not break in your house.
If you know that your locality is prone to floods and that a storm is on its way, block off your doors, windows and vents with metal or plywood sheeting, or for stronger protection create a sandbag barrier. You can also use silicone sealant to ensure that water will not enter your home. Steps like these will keep your household dry and safe through brief floods, though heavier sustained storms need better defences.
Switch off any external services.
These utilities have to be shut down at the mains, not just for appliances. Remember to remove the plugs of all electrical appliances and place them at a height above the expected flood level, possibly the second floor of your home. The water may enter into your home in spite of you being very careful, and although the water level normally increases some feet this may not be up to up to the second floor of your house so that it is dry and any items left there will be intact.
Take great care of your furniture and other equipment.
It is essential to safeguard your precious furniture and appliances by storing them upstairs or on elevated areas downstairs.
If space or storage does not permit, raise all these goods onto stacks of bricks, clear off the ground. Fold up carpets and curtains and store them away, you could even detach internal doors and keep them upstairs!.
They all should be kept at a higher level, so that they remain dry and away from water.
Important papers, pictures and other personal items should also be placed on higher grounds, particularly on the second floor of your house. These valuables are best stored in airtight containers like food tins. In case of non availability of waterproof containers use sealed plastic bags or refuse sacks to safeguard important documents against water.
Find a safe place for all external items like rakes. If not, these items will be floating on the flood water, which may pose a threat to others. Any possessions that may be washed out by the storm must be kept in a lockable area like a garage. Floods do not spare even heavy items like wheelbarrows as they could float away in water if left carelessly, however, garden implements can be kept safe and away from flood water when kept in garage or shed.
Certain things are to be kept in mind if there is a flood warning in your area.
Keep you ears and eyes open for any sort of information.
Keep yourself glued to your radio sets so that you do not miss out on any important announcements. Ensure that you act in cooperation with the directions of the emergency services and local authorities. If they require you to evacuate, follow them and do not delay as you will put yourself and your helpers at risk.
In such situations, it is quite probable for power to be unavailabile, which means that you must hurry to do everything you need to during the day. It is dangerous and troublesome to move around in darkness. Torch batteries must be kept handy and in known places ready for an emergency.
Do not keep the information that you receive to yourself, spread the word especially to the old people.
Avoid moving out of your homes. Floodwaters are so powerful that they can kill while flowing strongly, therefore it is recommended that you stay inside. Remember that two feet of water level causes floating of your cars, while six inches of water is enough to drown a child.
Ensure that your pets and cars are in a safe location. Climb up and stay on the second floor of your house if a flood warning has been issued in your area. Hazardous objects may be borne by the floodwaters, it is extremely dangerous to try and swim through such raging currents. You can get hurt by these objects or you might even be swept away.
Floodwater is dirty due to the presence of sewage and any contact with it should be possibly avoided. It would be a shame that you survived the flooding, but fell ill because of contaminated water. The most dangerous areas during floods have been river bridges, sea defenses, and riverbanks, so it is always better to stay away from these during such situations. The defenses and bridges have often collapsed in the past due to the floodwater.