Dos and donts during flood
Posted on: 04/Nov/2017 12:02:25 PM
Before flood
- Do not litter waste, plastic bags, plastic bottles in drains
- Try to be at home if high tide and heavy rains occur simultaneously
- Listen to weather forecast at media. Also, messages by Municipal bodies from time to time and act accordingly.
- Evacuate low lying areas and shift to safer places.
- Make sure that each person has lantern, torch, some edibles, drinking water, dry clothes and necessary documents while evacuating or shifting.
- Make sure that each family member has identity card.
- Put all valuables at a higher place in the house.
- In the Flood Situation
- Obey orders by government and shift to a safer place.
- Be at safe place and they try to collect correct information.
- Switch of electrical supply and don’t touch open wires.
- Don’t get carried away by rumors and don not spread rumors.
DO`s
- Switch off electrical and gas appliances, and turn off services off at the mains.
- Carry your emergency kit and let your friends and family know where you are going.
- Avoid contact with flood water it may be contaminated with sewage, oil, chemicals or other substances.
- If you have to walk in standing water, use a pole or stick to ensure that you do not step into deep water, open manholes or ditches.
- Stay away from power lines electrical current can travel through water, Report power lines that are down to the power company.
- Look before you step-after a flood, the ground and floors are covered with debris, which may include broken bottles, sharp objects, nails etc. Floors and stairs covered with mud and debris can be slippery.
- Listen to the radio or television for updates and information.
- If the ceiling is wet shut off electricity. Place a bucket underneath the spot and poke a small hole into the ceiling to relieve the pressure.
- Use buckets, clean towels and mops to remove as much of the water from the afflicted rooms as possible.
- Place sheets of aluminium foil between furniture wet carpet.
Don`ts
- Don`t walk through flowing water - currents can be deceptive, and shallow, fast moving water can knock you off your feet.
- Don`t swim through fast flowing water - you may get swept away or struck by an object in the water.
- Don`t drive through a flooded area - You may not be able to see abrupt drop - offs and only half a meter of flood water can carry a car away. Driving through flood water can also cause additional damage to nearby property.
- Don`t eat any food that has come into contact with flood water.
- Don`t reconnect your power supply until a qualified engineer has checked it. Be alert for gas leaks - do not smoke or use candles, lanterns, or open flames.
- Don`t scrub or brush mud and other deposits from materials, This may cause further damage.
- Never turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet. Stay away from ceilings those are sagging.
- Never use TVs, VCRS, CRT terminals or other electrical equipment while standing on wet floors, especially concrete.
- Don`t attempt to remove standing water using your vacuum cleaner.
- Don`t remove standing water in a basement too fast. If the pressure is relieved too quickly it may put undue stress on the walls.
