Keep your valuables dry in a flood
Keep your valuables dry in a flood
Even non flooding areas encounter flooding as a result of high winds and severe storms. Weather conditions have become extreme and regions that were once deprived of water can now encounter heavy rainfall in a single day. This has led to a situation where every individual must be ready to face household emergencies, especially flooding.
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 primary need is to make sure that water cannot get 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. Silicone sealant will also help in preventing water from coming into your home. Steps like these will keep your household dry and safe through brief floods, though heavier sustained storms need better defences.
Shut off your utilities.
It is always important to shut down the mains utilities like gas, power, water etc. Additionally, having unplugged all electrical appliances you should store them in elevated places; if possible, on the second floor. Storage on the second floor ensures that items can remain dry and far from the influence of water, as in most cases the water level will not reach the level of the upstairs floors inside homes.
Take great care of your furniture and other equipment.
It is essential to safeguard your precious furniture and appliances by storing them upstairs or on elevated areas downstairs.
If you do not have a second floor as you live in a bungalow, you can just raise such items on blocks or bricks. It is advisable to ensure that curtains, carpets, and doors within the house are taken out.
Store them all in high places to ensure that they are protected from water.
All personal documents, papers and such items must be sealed properly and stored in a dry place upstairs. Use water proof containers like those used for food storage for storing important things. If not, you should put important papers in sealed plastic bags to ensure that they are protected from water.
Now focusing on objects external to your hose like garden furniture, keep them in a secure place. 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. 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.
Listen carefully for flood warnings, there some steps you need to take on hearing such an announcement.
Up to date information is important when such situations are likely.
So stay tuned to the radio for the latest news and warnings. Offer your full support and cooperation to the local authorities and other emergency services. If you are ordered to evacuate, you should follow them immediately to avoid putting yourself and those around you in danger.
As electricity if often unavailable in such cases plan to complete all preparatory work during day. When it is dark, it is not easy or safe to carry out these tasks. Keep your torches and batteries handy.
When you get any such announcement, share it with your neighbors without fail, especially any older people, in order that they have enough time to get prepared.
Do not try to go out of your house until and unless you are asked to. Do not attempt to leave it, as floodwater can be lethal, particularly when raging. 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 household pets should be removed to a place where they will be out of danger. Climb up and stay on the second floor of your house if a flood warning has been issued in your area. During uncontrollable floods, it is not advised to swim as there would be items floating along which could hit you. There are chances of getting swept away or collisions with objects present in the water.
Floodwater is dirty due to the presence of sewage and any contact with it should be possibly avoided. It really wont be a good idea to fall ill because of the contaminated floodwater. The most dangerous places that must be avoided during floods are sea defenses, river bridges and riverbanks, hence keep away from such dangerous areas. There have been many cases wherein floodwater have destroyed or collapsed bridges and defenses.