Floods dos and don’ts: Emergency Kit and what you should do before or during floods

Keywords: - Floods, Stay away from broken and damaged electric lines, Malaria

Introduction:-

Flood is a surplus of water which submerges the land area. It is a natural disaster. It can happen anytime. If you are staying at low flood risk area also you should have to take care. Because you haven’t experienced a flood in your past days doesn’t mean that you will not experience in your future.

Causes of Flood:-

There are some causes of flood:-

§  Floods occur from heavy rainfall.

§  When heavy rain fall occurs and if the natural water resources are getting full then the excess or surplus water comes to the land area and submerges it. It causes the flood.

§  But it’s not that floods cause due to heavy rain fall. It causes from the cyclone, tsunami etc.

§  It can be caused by earthquakes too.

§  Failure of the dam is another reason for having a flood.

§  Tidal impacts on the sea may be another reason.

A flood is a natural calamity so we have to take a great care for that. We have to follow some conditions and requirements which will help us at the time of the flood.

What to Do:-

§  Use lime and bleaching powder to sterilize the surrounds. 

§  Keep your necessary furniture and electrical appliances on safe places that water can’t reach to that place.

§  Use chlorine tablets for purifying the water and drink boiled water.

§  Use Mosquito repellents or nets for preventing Malaria.

§  Keep your mobile charged and listen to the radio for necessary information.

§  Keep your pet animals in a safe place.

§  Use buckets to remove water.

§  Stay away from broken and damaged electric lines and gadgets because you can get an anelectrical shock in especially wet areas.

§  Keep your important documents in water proof bags with safety.

§  Carry your emergency kit with you.

What Not to Do:-

§  Don’t swim in the flood water because you may flow with that fast running water.

§  If you are on the way and flood water came to your vehicle then don’t ride that.

§  Don’t use and touch damaged electrical wires and appliances.

§  Don’t stay in the thelow lying area.

§  Don’t leave the safest area until the govt. doesn’t announce to leave that place.

§  Don’t get close to the channels, dirt lines, watercourses, drains etc. 

§  Don’t eat the food items which came into contact with the dirty flood water.

§  Don’t go to the flood water in bare foot.

Emergency Kit:-

This is a kit containing some important and emergency things which will help you at the time of natural calamity. You should have to take it with you; hence it will help you in an emergency situation. The kit includes the following things:-

§  Torch: - It will help you at night because at the time of flood your electricity may be broken down. So you will need it, especially at night time.

§  Dry Food: - Dry foods are those which you can keep for a maximum time. It will not worse and at the time of the flood, you have to take it for survives.

§  Ropes: - This can also help you as the area will be full of water.

§  Batteries: - It can help you to charge your phone as well as emergency lights.

§  First Aid Box: - During floods, many people and the animal will lose their homes and the other home appliances. So they will fight to get it and may be some will need first aid box because you can’t go to medical due to water around you. So keeping a first aid box with some common and emergency medicines will help you.

§  Radio: - Through this, you can get information about the further upcoming situations because at the time of flood there may be no electrical connections and you can’t get necessary information through TV. So the most helpful thing is Radio for that time.

§  Instead of above all those you have to take some other things in your emergency kit like an airtight water bottle, cash, secure shoes, chlorine tablets, knife etc.

Before floods:-

The following things you should keep in mind before floods.

§  When there is heavy raining and high tide, stay at home.

§  Do not untidiness plastic bags, waste, plastic bottles in drains.

§  Relinquish low lying and coastal areas and move to safe places.

§  Keep emergency kit ready before floods.

§  Pay attention to weather forecast information at All Doordarshan, AIR and by municipal bodies.

§  Keep your important and necessary documents in safe and higher places.

• If you stay in a high flood risk area, uplift the boiler, electric panel and water heater in your home.

During floods:-

The following things you should keep in mind before floods.

§  Stay at safe place

§  Listen to government announces.

§  Don’t be in contact with opened electric wires.

Conclusion:-

You should care about it and follow the above tips.