Hold your valuables dry in a flood
Hold your valuables dry in a flood
Heavy storms and winds frequently lead to flooding, and these events can occur in areas that have not previously been impacted for many years. Since we seem to experience extreme weather conditions recently, those areas which were unflooded formerly could get a months worth of rainfall in a single day. Therefore, it is important that everyone knows how to react to an event such as a flood.
You may not receive fair warning of a flash flood, but you can certainly take preventive steps to protect your house from drastic damage.
First thing that you need to ensure is that water does not enter your home.
For those who live in highly vulnerable areas where heavy rains or storms are expected often, it is advisable to cover-up doors and windows using metal sheets, sandbags, plywood etc. Silicone sealant will also help in preventing water from coming into your home. These measures will not last for days but they may hold back a short lasting flood and keep your possessions dry.
All your utilities should be totally switched off during floods.
The main supply for water, electricity and gas should be shut down at once. Electrical equipment must be unplugged and stored at height to prevent contact with water. Water entry into homes often rises several feet but this will mean that the second floor is dry and any items you have stored there will not be impacted.
Pay particular attention to your appliances and house furniture.
Before the flood hits, move all your valuable goods and fixtures to the first or second floor, or at least onto the highest shelves.
If space or storage does not permit, raise all these goods onto stacks of bricks, clear off the ground. Ensure that you have removed all interior decorative items like curtains, carpets and sometimes internal doors which may be damaged by flood waters.
Store these articles at height to save them from water which may enter.
The higher areas like the second floors are the best places to accumulate essential papers, images and other personal articles which are difficult to replace. Use water proof containers like those used for food storage for storing important things. At the least, place them in sealed plastic bags to keep them dry.
Items usually kept outside the house, such as gardening implements, should be removed to a safe location. The rising flood waters can lift such unsecured objects and cause harm to others. Also put more valuable items that could float away into a locked building such as you garage. 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.
Follow these important steps in case a flood warning is issued.
The information provided is of great importance in such crises.
Keep yourself glued to your radio sets so that you do not miss out on any important 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.
Since electricity will almost certainly be unavailable, you must ensure that you do all the things you need to do during the day. Doing work in darkness becomes tedious and unsafe. 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.
Be sure to stay inside your house. Violent flood waters can cause fatalities, hence it is imperative that you stay inside the house. It is important to note that rapid flowing water that is six inches high could make you fall, while two feet of water could make your car float.
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. 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 would be a pitty to survive the flood but get sick due to exposure to contaminated water. Where possible, steer clear of riverbanks, bridges over rivers and sea defenses during floods, as they are extremely hazardous places to be. The defenses and bridges have often collapsed in the past due to the floodwater.