Here’s the hard truth – floods are not going to end anytime soon. Even in the Bible, Noah had to build an ark to weather a flood. These days, hurricanes, torrential storms, etc. can lead to water overflows which will submerge land around us.
Depending on where you live, your area may be more prone to floods. One way to ascertain if you live in a high-risk area is to check if floods have happened there before. If they have, the chances of one happening again are high. You MUST be prepared.
Below you’ll find tips and strategies for coping with floods. Floods are a highly destructive force of nature that could wash your entire house away. So, it’s best to take as many preventive measures as you can.
- Insurance
It’s ideal to get insurance coverage for your home. Do note that there will usually be a waiting period that could last about a month before you see payout on a claim.
It’s best to start saving a little ‘emergency fund’ just in case such a weather catastrophe occurs. Flood insurance usually only covers water damage to the property. Even then, there will be a myriad of conditions in the fine print.
Your valuables may not be covered. So, you’re better off keeping them in a safety deposit box at the bank or in a heavy airtight/waterproof safe at home. Your temporary living expenses will NOT be covered either. By now you’ll realize that having cash on hand is crucial. That’s life.
- Turn OFF the power and gas mains
Before a flood strikes, or if one already has and the water level is rising, turn off all power. Locate the fuse box and turn off all switches. If the house is already flooded, make sure you’re standing on something dry before touching the fuse box.
If the fuse box is wet, use a wooden stick to pry it open and use the stick or a chopstick to turn off the switches. There is a possibility of electrocution. Be extremely cautious.
Turn off your gas main. During a flood, there could be a gas leak. If you enter your house once the flood dissipates and turn on the lights, there could be an explosion. Turning off both the gas and electricity will prevent another disaster from occurring.
- Be alert
Listen to the radio for flood warnings and updates. If there are flood shelters set up to help people, you need to know where they are and evacuate your family to safety.
- Avoid driving
Many people work under the false assumption that they can drive through a flood. This is not true. Usually, a flood that is just a foot high is enough to cause the car to stall and the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
If the flood is higher than a foot, the water will enter the vehicle and flood it. To make matters worse, the flood could easily sweep away the vehicle and you’d be trapped inside it with no control of where you’re going to end up.
Even if you can drive, aquaplaning can occur. This occurs when the water forms a layer on the road and the tire grooves can’t dissipate the water sufficiently. The car then ‘floats’ on the road. Turning the steering wheel or applying the brakes could cause it to skid and crash into some object or person.
- Pets
If you have pets, always have a plan for them. During a flood, how will you transport them? Do you have a little bug-out bag for your pet with its pet food, etc. inside? It’ll be heartbreaking to abandon your pet because you’re not prepared.
If you need to go out for a while during a flood warning, avoid caging or leashing your pet if you leave it at home. If there’s a flash flood, your pet will not be able to instinctively seek higher ground on its own.
- Recovery
Once the flood has dissipated, the real work begins. You’ll need to deal with the wet, soggy items. It’ll be depressing to see the damage that your house has endured. You’ll still need to check for structural integrity and damage to ensure that the house is safe to live in.
Check for snakes or other creatures that may have been displaced and taken refuge in your home.
Air out the house and clean off any mud, sand, etc. Furniture, electronic equipment, bedding, etc. that has been soaked will either have to be discarded or dried out. You’ll need to judge for yourself.
Do not drink water from the tap. In most floods the water supply will become contaminated. Stick to bottled water. Ideally, you should have a water filtration device such as a LifeStraw or some other water purification method.
During floods, getting clean drinking water will become difficult. This is one of life’s many ironies. You’re surrounded by water, but you can’t drink it. The water filtration bottles and water purification tablets will help you here.
These are some of the most important pointers that you should be aware of when it comes to floods. Always be prepared in advance for this emergency.