Your programme for the next flood alert

Heavy rains and stormy winds can often flood your locality, sometimes in unprecedented ways. Weather conditions have become extreme and regions that were once deprived of water can now encounter heavy rainfall in a single day. As a result everybody should be prepared for anything, particularly flooding.

Although one cannot avoid natural disasters, you can surely protect your home from flash floods by following a few safety measures.

Prevent water from entering your home.

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. Silicone sealant is another thing that you can use during floods, to make sure that water doesn’t seep in into your home. Measures such as these will not last for days, but may shore up your house against a short-term flood and help to keep possessions dry.

Switch off any external services.

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. Water that enters homes may rise to a height of several feet or more; the second floor will therefore remain dry, so that any objects stored there will not be affected.

Pay particular attention to your appliances and house furniture.

You need to ensure that your valuable furniture and appliances are kept on high areas or upstairs.
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.
To keep them from away from floodwater, store all of these in elevated places.

All personal documents, papers and such items must be sealed properly and stored in a dry place upstairs. To ensure total safety, you can put them up in waterproof containers like the ones used for storing food. At the least, place them in sealed plastic bags to keep them dry.

Ensure that all garden and garage tools and other outdoor equipment are firmly secured. These items can be readily picked up by floodwaters, and this might prove dangerous for others in the vicinity. Items which are expensive and can easily float away in water should be kept in a closed place like a garage. 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.

Keep yourself glued to your radio sets so that you do not miss out on any important 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.

Power lines are invariably cut off during floods, so your activities must be confined to the daytime. It will be tough and unsafe if you perform these things in the dark. 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.

Until the time to move stay in your house safely. Floodwater in its most fast flowing form can take lives and one should avoid moving outside if at all possible. 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.

Cars and pets should be kept at a safe place. As soon as you come to know about the flood alerts, relocating to the second floor of your house is recommended. Avoid swimming as fdangerous loating objects may be present in the water. These objects can hurt or trap you and you could be washed away.

You can also catch certain infectious diseases if you try to swim as the flood water is highly contaminated. Getting infected due to the befouled water could be tragic whenh you have been saved from drowning. Avoid visiting places like sea defenses, riverbanks and bridges in floods as these can be very risky areas. There have been many cases wherein floodwater have destroyed or collapsed bridges and defenses.

Keep your valuables dry in a flood

Keep your valuables dry in a flood Heavy rains and stormy winds can often flood your locality, sometimes in unprecedented ways. Weather conditions have become extreme and regions that were once deprived of water can now encounter heavy rainfall in a single day. Due to this extreme and unpredictable weather conditions, one should be prepared for any natural emergency or disaster such as floods. Being a natural calamity flooding is highly unpredictable but there are many options to prevent your homes from getting damaged by a flood. Prevent water from entering your home. If severe rains or storms are expected to reach your area, cover your doors and windows with wood, sheets of metal, or sandbags, particularly if you reside in an area that is prone to flooding. Silicone sealant will also help in preventing water from coming into your home. Although having a short lifetime these materials are very effective in preventing short duration floods and keeping things dry. Switch off any external services.…...

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