The guidebook to diluting the affect of an unanticipated flood
The guidebook to diluting the affect of an unanticipated flood
Even non flooding areas encounter flooding as a result of high winds and severe storms. A whole month’s quota of rain can fall in a single day in areas that have never witnessed floods, owing to the rapidly changing weather of today. Such an eventuality like flooding requires that everyone be ready well in advance at anytime.
Although such “acts of God” can occur at any point, you can use a number of preventative measures to help to protect your home against flash floods.
The first and foremost step is that you must stop water from coming into your home.
If you are expecting heavy rains or storms to hit your area, particularly if you live in a flood-prone area, you should cover your doors, or even windows, with metal sheets, sandbags, or plywood. You can also prevent water from entering your home by using a silicone sealant. These measures will not last for days but they may hold back a short lasting flood and keep your possessions dry.
Take care to ensure that your utilities are turned off.
The main supply for water, electricity and gas should be shut down at once. All electrical equipment must be unplugged and stored at the highest floor level to avoid flood damage. The water may enter into your home in spite of you being very careful, and although the water level normally increases some feet this may not be up to up to the second floor of your house so that it is dry and any items left there will be intact.
It is important to be mindful of furniture and appliances.
Check that the high priced furniture and equipment are stored at height or on the upper floors.
For those who live in houses without upper floors like a bungalow, it is better to store the valuables on blocks or bricks. Your curtains and carpets should be removed immediately, you should even remove the internal doors in your home.
Store these articles at height to save them from water which may enter.
All your office items like papers, pictures in addition to personal items must be stored on the second floor safely. These valuables are best stored in airtight containers like food tins. If you do not have these, keep important papers from contact with floodwater by storing them in plastic bags that can be sealed.
Ensure that all garden and garage tools and other outdoor equipment are firmly secured. The rising flood waters can lift such unsecured objects and cause harm to others. Use a building that can be secured, such as a garage, to store items of value that might be carried away. For instance, floodwater can even float away a wheelbarrow if kept in the open, but if it is locked into a garage, the possibility is very low.
FThe following are the steps to be followed in case a flood warning is announced.
Up to date information is important when such situations are likely.
Therefore, keep listening to the radio and pay attention for information and announcements. Offer your full support and cooperation to the local authorities and other emergency services. 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.
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. Doing things in the dark is not only tough but also dangerous. 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.
It is advisable to remain in your home. Floodwater in its most fast flowing form can take lives and one should avoid moving outside if at all possible. 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.
Cars and pets should be kept at a safe place. Once you heard of flood warning, you should stay on the second floor of your house. During uncontrollable floods, it is not advised to swim as there would be items floating along which could hit you. These objects could knock you over or cause you to be carried away by the floodwater.
Avoid contact with floodwater if possible, as it could be polluted with dirt and sewage. It would indeed be a pity to survive a serious event such as a flood, only to fall ill from contact with polluted water. The most dangerous areas during floods have been river bridges, sea defenses, and riverbanks, so it is always better to stay away from these during such situations. The defenses and bridges have often collapsed in the past due to the floodwater.