Addressing unannounced flooding
Addressing unannounced flooding
Areas which are not vulnerable to flooding can at times be impacted by the adverse effects of strong storms and high winds. 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. 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 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 applied to the joints of shutters and glazing is effective in preventing water seepage. 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.
You must shut off all your utilities.
The main supply for water, electricity and gas should be shut down at once. Additionally, having unplugged all electrical appliances you should store them in elevated places; if possible, on the second floor. The level of water entering the house can escalate to a few feet yet storing things at height in the home can prevent them from getting damaged.
You need to take good care of your furniture and other 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. Be sure to remove carpets, curtains and even internal doors.
Store them all in high places to ensure that they are protected from water.
Important papers, pictures and other personal items should also be placed on higher grounds, particularly on the second floor of your house. These valuables are best stored in airtight containers like food tins. 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. It can be dangerous for others if these articles get caught in floodwater easily. Besides, keep all your important items in a locked room or building (a garage) to prevent them from floating away. 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.
Keep yourself glued to your radio sets so that you do not miss out on any important announcements. Be sure to cooperate fully with local authorities and emergency services. If they require you to evacuate, follow them and do not delay as you will put yourself and your helpers at risk.
Do not delay doing important work during the day as at night you cannot guarantee the availability of power. Doing work in darkness becomes tedious and unsafe. Also get batteries for your torches and know where they are.
Ensure that you share any information with your neighbours, particularly the elderly, so that they can properly prepare.
It is advisable to remain in your home. Violent flood waters can cause fatalities, hence it is imperative that you stay inside the house. Fast paced water that is about six inches high can easily off-balance you while two feet is enough depth to float a car.
Make sure to find some safe place for your pets and your familys cars. As soon as you come to know about the flood alerts, relocating to the second floor of your house is recommended. Various objects might float in the floodwater so avoid swimming as it could be dangerous. It could either sweep you along with the water-current or hurt you by crashing into the objects in the water.
Avoid contact with floodwater, as it may be unclean or have become contaminated by contact with sewage waste. It really wont be a good idea to fall ill because of the contaminated floodwater. Riverbanks, sea defenses and river bridges are the most dangerous places during floods, so avoid going near them. The defenses and bridges have often collapsed in the past due to the floodwater.