If you live in a high flood risk area, personal preparation is the key to avoiding disaster.
Take solid steps ahead of time to ensure the safety of your family and minimize property loss, even when the flood waters come lapping at your doorstep.
By following this list of flood safety tips, your family and home will be ready when waters begin to rise.
Before a Flood Strikes
Step1
Call your local emergency organization office to assess your home's flood risk.
Step2
Put together a supply kit including battery-powered flashlights and radio, first aid and medications, rain gear and warm clothing, sleeping bags or bedding, several days worth of canned foods and bottled water, and any other personal items you must have for health and safety.
Step3
Form a family emergency/evacuation plan. Make sure everyone knows where to go in the event of a flood warning. Make a list of those places you could go--houses of family or friends, shelters or other safe public buildings on higher ground. Provide each family member with a written list of the locations and phone numbers, preferably in order, from first to last resort.
Step4
Check with your insurance agent on whether or not flood insurance is available for your home. Consult a professional when making flood insurance decisions.
Step5
Elevate your water heater, furnace and electrical panel to minimize damage if they are in flood-prone areas of your home.
During a Flood Watch or Warning
Step1
Fill your car's gas tank at the earliest suspicion of flood-producing weather or conditions. It will be your quick getaway if the time comes.
Step2
Move what furniture and valuables you can to the highest floor of the house, or in single story homes, raise them off of the ground as much as possible. Do this at the onset of a flood watch.
Step3
Stay tuned to local TV and radio for constant updates on the weather forecast, flood level, and watches and warnings. Take all advice and warnings seriously.
Step4
Evacuate to higher ground as soon as a flood warning is issued. Follow your family evacuation plan while avoiding waterways at all costs. Do not drive into standing water and abandon your car immediately if it does stall in water. Search for high, dry ground, and get there as quickly as possible.
Also you can considered other below tips.
Before a flood happens, make sure you’re ready: ·
o Learn about your community’s emergency plans, warning signals, evacuation routes and locations of emergency shelters·
o For drains, toilets and other sewer connections, install backflow valves or plugs to prevent floodwaters from entering·
o Gather your emergency supply kit and stay tuned to local radio or TV stations for updates·
o Do NOT keep valuable items and appliances in your basement. They could get ruined during a flood·
o Make sure your fuse box (or main breaker) and utility meters are raised above the flood level in your home. Water and electricity don’t mix·
o Turn off all utilities at the main power switch ·
o Fill bathtubs, sink and plastic soda bottles with clean water ·
o Bring outdoor possessions, such as lawn furniture and trash cans inside or tie them down securely·
o Fill your vehicle’s gas tank and make sure the emergency kit for your car is ready·
o If no vehicle is available, make arrangements with friends or family for transportation·
o Put livestock and family pets in a safe area. Due to food and sanitation requirements, emergency shelters cannot accept animals·
o Adjust the thermostat on refrigerators and freezers to the coolest possible temperature· Have flood insurance
When flooding happens, here’s what you should do:
If a flood warning is issued for your area or you are directed by authorities to evacuate the area, never ignore such orders .Take only essential items with you .
Disconnect appliances to prevent electrical shock when power is restored
Follow the designated evacuation routes and expect heavy traffic Go to higher ground immediately .
Do NOT try to drive through water, even if it’s not moving. You car can easily get swept away
After a flood, here are some of the things you need to be aware of:
Avoid illness.
o Always wash your hands with soap and water that has been boiled or disinfected before preparing or eating food, after toilet use, after participating in flood cleanup activities and after handling articles contaminated with flood water or sewage Make sure your food is safe:
o Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with flood water
o For infants, use only pre-prepared canned baby formula that requires no added water, rather than powdered formulas prepared with treated water
o Discard any refrigerated or frozen food that has been at room temperature for two hours or more and any food that has an unusual odor, color or texture
Make sure your water is safe:
o Do not use contaminated water to wash dishes, brush your teeth, wash and prepare food, wash your hands, make ice or make baby formula. You can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to wash your hands
o If you use bottled water, be sure it came from a safe source. If you do not know that the water came from a safe source, you should boil or treat it before you use it. Use only bottled, boiled or treated water until your supply is tested and found safe
o Bringing water to a rolling boil for one minute will kill most organisms.
How to Handle Animals:
Many wild animals may be forced from their natural habitats by flooding, and many domestic animals may also be without homes after a flood. Take care to avoid these animals Do not corner an animal .
If an animal must be removed, contact your local animal control authorities. If you are bitten by any animal, seek immediate medical attention .
If you are bitten by a snake, first try to accurately identify the type of snake so that, if poisonous, the correct anti-venom may be administered
How to Deal with Electric and Gas Utilities:
Electrical power and natural gas or propane tanks should be shut off to avoid fire, electrocution or explosions until it is safe to use them .
Use battery-powered flashlights and lanterns, rather than candles, gas lanterns or torches.
If you smell gas or suspect a leak, turn off the main gas valve, open all windows and leave the house immediately .
Notify the fire department and do not turn on the lights or do anything that could cause a spark.
Avoid any downed power lines, particularly those in water.
All electrical equipment and appliances must be completely dry before using them. You should have a certified electrician check these items if there is any question
How to Clean Up:
Walls, hard-surfaced floors and many other household surfaces should be cleaned with soap and water and disinfected with a solution of 1 cup of bleach to 20 liters of water .
Wash all linens and clothing in hot water, or dry clean them .
For items that cannot be washed or dry cleaned, such as mattresses and upholstered furniture, air dry them in the sun and then spray them thoroughly with a disinfectant.
Steam clean all carpeting .
If there has been a backflow of sewage into the house, wear rubber boots and waterproof gloves during cleanup .
Remove and discard contaminated household materials that cannot be disinfected, such as wall coverings, cloth, rugs and drywall
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