The problems of flooding can be diminished with this coordinated program
The problems of flooding can be diminished with this coordinated program
Heavy rains and stormy winds can often flood your locality, sometimes in unprecedented ways. Less prone areas which were not previously flooded are now facing extreme atmospheric conditions sometimes leading to rainfall of one month in one day. Therefore, it is important that everyone knows how to react to an event such as a flood.
Although one cannot avoid natural disasters, you can surely protect your home from flash floods by following a few safety measures.
The primary need is to make sure that water cannot get into your home.
If you are living in a flood prone area, or anticipating severe rains and storms, covering the doors and windows with sandbags, plywood or metal sheets is highly recommended. It is beneficial to use silicone sealant as it prevents water from entering your house. Measures such as these will not last for days, but may shore up your house against a short-term flood and help to keep possessions dry.
You must shut off all your utilities.
It is always important to shut down the mains utilities like gas, power, water etc. Electrical devices should be unplugged and kept away from water, preferably at a higher level. The level of water entering the house can escalate to a few feet yet storing things at height in the home can prevent them from getting damaged.
Stay alert when it comes to your appliances or furniture.
It is essential to safeguard your precious furniture and appliances by storing them upstairs or on elevated areas downstairs.
Suppose there is no second floor, just keep those items at a higher level like on some bricks. Fold up carpets and curtains and store them away, you could even detach internal doors and keep them upstairs!.
Store them all in high places to ensure that they are protected from water.
All personal documents, papers and such items must be sealed properly and stored in a dry place upstairs. Use water proof containers like those used for food storage for storing important things. However in case you do not have these containers, you can always use plastic bags for the same purpose.
Items usually kept outside the house, such as gardening implements, should be removed to a safe location. Floodwater can easily float these items, which can pose danger to others. Use a building that can be secured, such as a garage, to store items of value that might be carried away. Even a wheelbarrow could float away if left outside whereas it will not move if kept in a garage and will not be harmed by the flood water.
Follow these important steps in case a flood warning is issued.
During such times, information plays a vital role to the decisions you need to make.
Hence, keep a watch over the news for announcements or updates by listening to the radio or television. Co-operation from your family with the local authorities and emergency services is essential. In case, they want you to vacate, just follow their instructions and your evacuation as quick as possible, since you are endangering your life as well as those of the helpers until you are safe.
Try to finish up your work during the daytime as electricity is usually not available in such conditions. Also doing things in the night can be risky. Keep extra batteries for your torches ready, these will come in very handy.
Do not keep the information that you receive to yourself, spread the word especially to the old people.
Be sure to stay inside your house. Floodwater can kill, especially when it is raging, so do not attempt to go out. Be aware that when water is flowing rapidly, a small depth of water can cause you to fall over; only two feet is required to float your car.
Keep your pets and automobiles in secure areas. As soon as you hear the flood warning announced move to the second floor. Hazardous objects may be borne by the floodwaters, it is extremely dangerous to try and swim through such raging currents. If you risk this you may be knocked over by the floating objects.
Besides, floodwater may be filthy and polluted with sewage, try to prevent any contact to avoid future infection. It really will be a terrible situation if you survive the flood and later fell ill owing to contaminated water. Avoid visiting places like sea defenses, riverbanks and bridges in floods as these can be very risky areas. You might have heard of many incidences of floodwater having destroyed and collapsed defenses and bridges , so don’t make yourself a victim.