Do not get washed away by the imminent flood
Do not get washed away by the imminent flood
Areas which are not vulnerable to flooding can at times be impacted by the adverse effects of strong storms and high winds. Areas that had previously remained unflooded can, in the extreme weather conditions we face today, receive the equivalent of a month’s rainfall in a single day. Such an eventuality like flooding requires that everyone be ready well in advance at anytime.
Owing to the uncertain occurrence of these acts of God, you must undertake a number of measures to prevent your house from being affected with flash floods.
First thing that you need to ensure is that water does not enter your home.
If you are already aware of an expected storm or heavy downpour in your area, or if your house is located in a flood-prone area, you must act immediately, protecting your doors and windows using plywood and metal sheets and shielding them using sandbags. You can also use silicone sealant to ensure that water will not enter your home. However such measures last only for a short period of time, but they definitely help you to prevent your possessions from getting wet.
Take care to ensure that your utilities are turned off.
The main supply for water, electricity and gas should be shut down at once. Electrical equipment must be unplugged and stored at height to prevent contact with water. 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.
It is important to be mindful of furniture and appliances.
They should be kept at a height so as to prevent them from getting soaked in water.
If your house is a bungalow and therefore lacks a second floor, use blocks or bricks to elevate these items. Ensure that you have removed all interior decorative items like curtains, carpets and sometimes internal doors which may be damaged by flood waters.
When all these goods are stored at high locations, they stand a much better chance of weathering the incoming water.
Important papers, pictures and other personal items should also be placed on higher grounds, particularly on the second floor of your house. Use water proof containers like those used for food storage for storing important things. Otherwise, to make sure the important papers are safe against water, place them in sealed plastic bags.
Make sure that all objects outside your house, such as rakes, are kept in a safe place. They should be kept safely because they can float easily in floodwater and this can cause various other problems. 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.
If a flood warning is issued here are important things you need to do once you a flood warning has been issued.
Information is crucial during situations like these.
Therefore, keep listening to the radio and pay attention for information and announcements. Ensure that you act in cooperation with the directions of the emergency services and local authorities. They may need you to move out of the house, which you must do quickly to avoid aggravating the risk to you and the emergency services.
All of your immediate tasks should be performed during the day, as it is very likely that electricity will become unavailable. It is dangerous and troublesome to move around in darkness. Torch batteries must be kept handy and in known places ready for an emergency.
When you get any such announcement, share it with your neighbors without fail, especially any older people, in order that they have enough time to get prepared.
Do not try to go out of your house until and unless you are asked to. This is to ensure your safety as the flood water could be dangerous. Remember that two feet of water level causes floating of your cars, while six inches of water is enough to drown a child.
Cars and household pets should be removed to a place where they will be out of danger. It is best to stay on the second floor of your house once you receive a flood warning. Do not attempt to swim through a flood when it is raging, as there may be items suspended in the water. There are chances of getting swept away or collisions with objects present in the water.
Floodwater is dirty due to the presence of sewage and any contact with it should be possibly avoided. It really will be a terrible situation if you survive the flood and later fell ill owing to contaminated water. Where possible, steer clear of riverbanks, bridges over rivers and sea defenses during floods, as they are extremely hazardous places to be. You might have heard of many incidences of floodwater having destroyed and collapsed defenses and bridges , so don’t make yourself a victim.
