The homeowners guidebook to addressing an out of the blue flood
The homeowners guidebook to addressing an out of the blue flood
Heavy rains and stormy winds can often flood your locality, sometimes in unprecedented ways. With the extreme weather conditions that we are facing today previously unflooded areas can receive a months worth of rainfall in one day. Such an eventuality like flooding requires that everyone be ready well in advance at anytime.
Being a natural calamity flooding is highly unpredictable but there are many options to prevent your homes from getting damaged by a flood.
Take measures to keep water out of your house.
If you are living in a flood prone area, or anticipating severe rains and storms, covering the doors and windows with sandbags, plywood or metal sheets is highly recommended. You can also prevent water from entering your home by using a silicone sealant. Though these measures do not help over an elongated period, they may be beneficial in the short-run to protect from a flood and keep your home dry.
Switch off your electricity, water and gas lines to minimise short circuits, leakages and fire.
It is always important to shut down the mains utilities like gas, power, water etc. Electrical devices should be unplugged and kept away from water, preferably at a higher level. 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.
Be mindful of your appliances and furniture.
They should be kept at a height so as to prevent them from getting soaked in water.
If a second floor is not available, as in case of a bungalow, raise items by arranging them on blocks or bricks. Removing carpets, curtains and internal doors is recommended.
If you want to give protection from water to any of your possessions, all these should be stored in raised places.
Important papers, pictures and other personal items should also be placed on higher grounds, particularly on the second floor of your house. Again, make sure to use waterproof containers like food storage containers to store away these. However in case you do not have these containers, you can always use plastic bags for the same purpose.
Make sure that all objects outside your house, such as rakes, are kept in a safe place. Floodwater can easily float these items, which can pose danger to others. Use a building that can be secured, such as a garage, to store items of value that might be carried away. A large item such as a wheelbarrow might be carried away if left where the waters can access it; if placed in a secure building, it will not be moved and the floodwater will not damage it.
FThe following are the steps to be followed in case a flood warning is announced.
During such times, information plays a vital role to the decisions you need to make.
So stay tuned to the radio for the latest news and warnings. Be sure to cooperate fully with local authorities and emergency services. If asked to evacuate comply immediately as delays can increase risk for you and the helpers who are trying to assist you.
Try to finish up your work during the daytime as electricity is usually not available in such conditions. Doing work in darkness becomes tedious and unsafe. For emergency purposes, ensure that you load your torches with fresh batteries and also have a spare on hand.
Share the information with your neighbors, particularly the old people, so that they can also prepare themselves.
Try to spend as much time as possible in the house rather than exposing yourself to risk outside. Floodwaters are so powerful that they can kill while flowing strongly, therefore it is recommended that you stay inside. 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.
Keep your pets and automobiles in secure areas. Climb up and stay on the second floor of your house if a flood warning has been issued in your area. Do not attempt to swim through a flood when it is raging, as there may be items suspended in the water. You can get hurt by these objects or you might even be swept away.
Leaking sewage invariably finds its way into floodwater, so stay away from the water as much as you can. It would be a pitty to survive the flood but get sick due to exposure to contaminated water. The most dangerous places that must be avoided during floods are sea defenses, river bridges and riverbanks, hence keep away from such dangerous areas. The defenses and bridges have often collapsed in the past due to the floodwater.