How to stay safe during flash flooding?
People living along streams, creeks and rivers should be on alert anytime as heavy rain falls in the area can lead to flash flooding. Flash floods are caused by heavy rain, or a thunderstorm or by dam failure. The wave can move at incredible speeds and can carry boulders, trees, houses and other debris along with it. It can reach heights of 20 feet and higher. Seventy-five percent of flash flood fatalities occur at night. You cannot see the rising water after dark and add to that, evening thunderstorms dump most of their rain close to or after nightfall. Following are some of the safety precautions to be taken to stay safe from flash floods.
- Avoid areas which are under sudden flooding or already flooded.
- Always avoid driving through water or play in high water which will lead loss of life.
- Always get an electrician advice in case of broken or frayed wires or circuit breaker.
- Always call a plumber in case of sewage and water lines damage.
- Always avoid flooded area and try to drive areas which are higher ground.
- If your vehicle is engulfed by water or the engine stops, immediately get out of the vehicle and climb to higher ground.
- Always use a battery-operated radio for evacuation instructions.
- Always prepare to evacuate your house when you are instructed to evacuate by local officials.
- In order avoid being stuck by flooded roads always make sure to leave early.
- Always avoid areas where water is moving quickly like drainage ditches, streambeds.
- Do not walk through floodwater and try to walk in areas where the water is not moving, or is moving more slowly.
- In order to avoid trip or fall always use a long stick to test the ground in front of you for holes, rough patches, or soft areas.
- In order to make sure that the building is not in danger of collapsing always check walls, floors, doors, and windows.
- Do not hold your eatables for a long time it may get contaminated with flood bacterias.
- Shift all your precious and valuable things to higher places if you have time to do so.
- You should have water related experiences such as swimming; if you belong to flood marked areas.
- Keep yourself away from standing flood water and water that still receding because it contains river bacterias, road grimes and dirt from car engines.
Following are some of the measures to be taken care after the flood:
- Keep yourself in touch with weather threats after flood.
- Wash all items including children’s toys which are contaminated with flood waters
- To clean the contaminated items use one cup of household bleach mixed with five galloons of water.
- Unwashable items such as form cloths, soft toys, mattress that are contaminated with flood water should be thrown off.
- To prevent a flood generated diseases always wash your hands with clean water and soap
- While handling the flood wastages always clean your hands with alcohol-based sanitizer.
- To prevent infections always use iodine, tincture, or Dettol to wash your wounds.
Above mentioned safety precautions will help to stay safe from flash floods to some extend.
