During rainy season, residents are encouraged to take precautions and protect themselves and their property from flood risks and flood damage.
Tips for Personal Safety during a Flood
- Avoid walking through flooded areas. Drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths, mostly during flash floods. Currents can be deceptive; six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet. If you walk through flood, use a pole or a stick to guide you.
- Do not drive through a flooded area. More people drown in their cars than anywhere else. Do not drive around road barriers; the road or bridge may be washed out during flood.
- Stay away from power lines and electrical wires. The number two flood killer after drowning is electrocution. Electrical currents can travel through waters. Report downed power lines to the appropriate authority.
- Have your electricity turned off. Some appliances, such as televisions, retain electrical charges even after they have been unplugged. Do not use appliances or motors that have gotten wet unless they have been cleaned and dried.
- Look out for animals, especially snakes that have been flooded out of their hidings and may seek shelter in your home. Use a pole or a stick to uncover pests that might be hiding in some obscure parts of the house.
- Watch your step. After a flood, the ground and the floors are covered with debris which might include broken bottles, etc. Floors and staircases that have been covered with mud can be very slippery. Therefore you should always get the house cleaned up after a flood.
- Be alert for gas leaks. Use torchlight to inspect for damage. Do not smoke or use candles, lanterns or open flames unless you know that gas has been turned off and the area is well ventilated.
- During rainfall, stay away from flood channels and areas prone to sudden flooding.
Help your community and respond to disasters promptly
Source:nesrea
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