Organise yourself for the future flooding in your area
Organise yourself for the future flooding in your area
Heavy rains and stormy winds can often flood your locality, sometimes in unprecedented ways. 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. One should be well equipped for any circumstances including flash floods.
You may not receive fair warning of a flash flood, but you can certainly take preventive steps to protect your house from drastic damage.
The first and foremost step is that you must stop water from coming 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. Silicone sealant applied to the joints of shutters and glazing is effective in preventing water seepage. However such measures last only for a short period of time, but they definitely help you to prevent your possessions from getting wet.
All your utilities should be totally switched off during floods.
It is important to shut off the electricity, gas and even water supplies, as well as other utilities, at the mains supply. Additionally, having unplugged all electrical appliances you should store them in elevated places; if possible, on the second floor. Water entry into homes often rises several feet but this will mean that the second floor is dry and any items you have stored there will not be impacted.
Pay particular attention to your appliances and house furniture.
Check that the high priced furniture and equipment are stored at height or on the upper floors.
If a second floor is not available, as in case of a bungalow, raise items by arranging them on blocks or bricks. Your curtains and carpets should be removed immediately, you should even remove the internal doors in your home.
They all should be kept at a higher level, so that they remain dry and away from water.
All personal documents, papers and such items must be sealed properly and stored in a dry place upstairs. Again, make sure to use waterproof containers like food storage containers to store away these. In case of non availability of waterproof containers use sealed plastic bags or refuse sacks to safeguard important documents against water.
Items usually kept outside the house, such as gardening implements, should be removed to a safe location. They should be kept safely because they can float easily in floodwater and this can cause various other problems. A locked building like garage can be an ideal place to keep valuable items as it prevents their floating away for the duration of a flood. A seemingly heavy object like a wheelbarrow can be flung about and carried away by the flood, but it will be safe if stored inside your garage.
If a flood warning is issued here are important things you need to do once you a flood warning has been issued.
Correct information is vital in such circumstances.
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. 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.
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. Acquire appropriate batteries for your torches and know their location in the house.
Pass the threat information to all your neighbors and senior citizens especially, to enable them to arrange protection for themselves.
Be sure to stay inside your house. Do not attempt to leave it, as floodwater can be lethal, particularly when raging. It is important to note that rapid flowing water that is six inches high could make you fall, while two feet of water could make your car float.
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.
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. Avoid visiting places like sea defenses, riverbanks and bridges in floods as these can be very risky areas. Many instances can be sighted leading to the destruction of bridges and defenses due to the alarming effect of floods.