How to look after your home when a flood comes
How to look after your home when a flood comes
Heavy storms and winds frequently lead to flooding, and these events can occur in areas that have not previously been impacted for many years. The weather conditions have undergone a drastic change so much so that areas which used to remain unflooded are now experiencing huge rainfall. Therefore, it is important that everyone knows how to react to an event such as a flood.
Although one cannot avoid natural disasters, you can surely protect your home from flash floods by following a few safety measures.
Make provisions that restrict water from entering the house.
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. A silicone sealant is a good water-proofing material that will keep your house free from water logs. 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.
Take care to ensure that your utilities are turned off.
You should remember to turn off all your utilities, such as gas, electricity and even water, at the mains. Importantly, switching off the power running to appliances must not be forgotten. 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.
Take great care of your furniture and other equipment.
Check that the high priced furniture and equipment are stored at height or on the upper floors.
If your house is a bungalow and therefore lacks a second floor, use blocks or bricks to elevate these items. Fold up carpets and curtains and store them away, you could even detach internal doors and keep them upstairs!.
If you want to give protection from water to any of your possessions, all these should be stored in raised places.
The second floor of the house can be used for putting down all the important papers and pictures. 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.
Find a safe place for all external items like rakes. These items can be readily picked up by floodwaters, and this might prove dangerous for others in the vicinity. A locked building like garage can be an ideal place to keep valuable items as it prevents their floating away for the duration of a flood. Wheelbarrow should also be kept in a garage, else it can also float away.
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.
Therefore, keep listening to the radio and pay attention for information and announcements. Co-operation from your family with the local authorities and emergency services is essential. In case, they want you to vacate, just follow their instructions and your evacuation as quick as possible, since you are endangering your life as well as those of the helpers until you are safe.
Try to finish up your work during the daytime as electricity is usually not available in such conditions. It is much more difficult and unsafe to do things in the dark. 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.
Until the time to move stay in your house safely. This is to ensure your safety as the flood water could be dangerous. 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.
If you have any pets or cars, make sure to keep them in a safe place. Once you heard of flood warning, you should stay on the second floor of your house. Do not attempt to swim through a flood when it is raging, as there may be items suspended in the water. There are chances of getting swept away or collisions with objects present in the water.
Avoid contact with floodwater, as it may be unclean or have become contaminated by contact with sewage waste. It would be a shame that you survived the flooding, but fell ill because of contaminated water. Where possible, steer clear of riverbanks, bridges over rivers and sea defenses during floods, as they are extremely hazardous places to be. Because such waterfronts are often destroyed by the floods, taking everything around down with them.