Beat that unheralded flood with our guidelines
Beat that unheralded flood with our guidelines
Flooding is often the result of high winds and powerful storms, even in areas not prone to such occurrences. 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.
Being a natural calamity flooding is highly unpredictable but there are many options to prevent your homes from getting damaged by a flood.
First thing that you need to ensure is that water does not enter 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. You can also use silicone sealant to ensure that water will not enter your home. Though these measures do not help over an elongated period, they may be beneficial in the short-run to protect from a flood and keep your home dry.
Shut off your utilities.
These utilities have to be shut down at the mains, not just for appliances. Electrical devices should be unplugged and kept away from water, preferably at a higher level. This will ensure that if water does come into the house even a few feet deep, your goods will remain safe and dry.
It is important to be mindful of furniture and appliances.
Before the flood hits, move all your valuable goods and fixtures to the first or second floor, or at least onto the highest shelves.
In case you do not have a higher area in your home, you can always use bricks or blocks to make one. Removing carpets, curtains and internal doors is recommended.
Store them all in high places to ensure that they are protected from water.
All your office items like papers, pictures in addition to personal items must be stored on the second floor safely. Also store them in waterproof containers such as food storage containers. At the least, place them in sealed plastic bags to keep them dry.
Rakes and other objects that are outside your house also need proper attention. The rising flood waters can lift such unsecured objects and cause harm to others. Use your garage, a locked building, as the most suitable place to store precious garden articles which are prone to damage. 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.
FThe following are the steps to be followed in case a flood warning is announced.
Keep you ears and eyes open for any sort of information.
Therefore, keep listening to the radio and pay attention for information and announcements. Your co-operation with the local authorities and service providers is must in the hour of need. If they require you to evacuate, follow them and do not delay as you will put yourself and your helpers at risk.
As electricity if often unavailable in such cases plan to complete all preparatory work during day. Doing work in darkness becomes tedious and unsafe. Keep extra batteries for your torches ready, these will come in very handy.
Share the information with your neighbors, particularly the old people, so that they can also prepare themselves.
Try to spend as much time as possible in the house rather than exposing yourself to risk outside. Any attempt to leave your house can prove deadly, especially when it is raging during floods. Take notice of that fact that your car can float in two feet of water whereas six inches of rapidly flowing water is sufficient to make you fall.
Keep your pets and automobiles in secure areas. As soon as you hear the flood warning announced move to the second floor. There maybe objects floating in the water, so do not attempt to swim through raging flood. 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. Getting infected due to the befouled water could be tragic whenh you have been saved from drowning. 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.