Keep your all-important items dry in a flood
Keep your all-important items dry in a flood
Floods can be caused by high winds and heavy storms, even in areas that are not accustomed to witness such events. The weather conditions have undergone a drastic change so much so that areas which used to remain unflooded are now experiencing huge rainfall. 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.
Take measures to keep water out of your house.
If you stay in an area which is prone to flooding, make sure that you cover up your windows and doors using sandbags, plywood or metal sheets. It is beneficial to use silicone sealant as it prevents water from entering your house. Steps like these will keep your household dry and safe through brief floods, though heavier sustained storms need better defences.
Shut off your utilities.
The main supply for water, electricity and gas should be shut down at once. 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 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.
Take special care of the appliances and furniture.
Valuable appliances and furniture should be kept in elevated areas or upstairs.
For those who live in houses without upper floors like a bungalow, it is better to store the valuables on blocks or bricks. It is advisable to ensure that curtains, carpets, and doors within the house are taken out.
When all these goods are stored at high locations, they stand a much better chance of weathering the incoming water.
The second floor of the house can be used for putting down all the important papers and pictures. Again, make sure to use waterproof containers like food storage containers to store away these. If you do not have these, keep important papers from contact with floodwater by storing them in plastic bags that can be sealed.
Rakes and other objects that are outside your house also need proper attention. These items can be readily picked up by floodwaters, and this might prove dangerous for others in the vicinity. Besides, keep all your important items in a locked room or building (a garage) to prevent them from floating away. A heavy item like wheelbarrow can be very easily float if kept in the open but can be prevented from floating and damaged by floodwater if stored in the garage.
Once you have received a flood warning, there are several important tasks you must carry out immediately.
During such times, information plays a vital role to the decisions you need to make.
Be attentive to all radio announcements and flood updates given by local services. Your co-operation with the local authorities and service providers is must in the hour of need. The authorities might ask you to evacuate, in such a case you should follow their orders immediately as it is for your own good only.
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. Keeping batteries and torches in places you will remember is a handy tip for coping with an emergency.
Pass the threat information to all your neighbors and senior citizens especially, to enable them to arrange protection for themselves.
Secure yourself inside your house and do not go out. Floodwaters are so powerful that they can kill while flowing strongly, therefore it is recommended that you stay inside. 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. It is best to stay on the second floor of your house once you receive a flood warning. Avoid swimming as fdangerous loating objects may be present in the water. These objects could knock you over or cause you to be carried away by the floodwater.
Besides, floodwater may be filthy and polluted with sewage, try to prevent any contact to avoid future infection. It would indeed be a pity to survive a serious event such as a flood, only to fall ill from contact with polluted water. River bridges, sea defenses, and riverbanks are very dangerous places to be in during floods, so be sure to steer away from them if possible. The defenses and bridges have often collapsed in the past due to the floodwater.