Many circumstances can lead to flooding aside from natural disasters. It can be caused by leaks in your home, dam failure, melting snow, tornadoes, hurricanes, and more. Regardless of where you live, you may still not be immune to a natural disaster, making it important to equip yourself with the knowledge of what to expect before, during, and flooding and how you can deal with it.
Home Preparations for Flooding
If your home is not floodproof, it’s time to retrofit it. For example, your utilities should be installed above the Base Floor Elevation to prevent the systems from getting damaged by water. Relocate expensive appliances like refrigerators, washers, and dryers. Aside from these, you need to:
- Install interior or exterior flood walls.
Replace your carpets with tile floors on the ground level around your house. This makes it easier and faster to clean up and dry when it gets flooded. Check for any vulnerable spot and seal it around the house to prevent water from seeping through.
Ensure that all important documents such as birth certificates, medical records, and insurance are not stored in the basement. Find a safe area where water will not be able to reach and store them.
- Prepare an emergency kit and develop a family reunification plan.
Networks might be interrupted during a natural disaster, which will leave you unable to use your cell phones. Find alternative means of communication and keep in case of emergency. Create emergency plans with your family, which will include evacuation routes and a list of possible shelters.
Visit https://nationalfloodforum.org.uk/about-flooding/preparing/emergency-flood-kit
To gain more insight on what to include in your emergency kit.
- Get flood insurance.
In most situations, homeowners insurance doesn’t cover floods. You can find flood insurance rate maps on many insurance websites to help you determine the cost depending on your location. Learn ways to survive in events of flooding. Attending swimming classes and avoiding driving through flooded areas.
Before a Flood
Put flood barriers like sandbags all over your home to prevent water if there is a possibility of flooding. Turn off your gas and main electricity cable as soon as you hear about flooding striking. Unplug all electronic devices and switch off all power outlets.
Place all your indoor electronics, outdoor machinery, furniture rugs, and other important items on a high floor if possible. These measures will minimize or even prevent water damage. If your home is a two-story building, move computers and other essential electronics to the top floor. If your house is a single-story building, use concrete blood or any creativity you have in mind to elevate your essentials. Close and board up windows to the basement and any room on the ground floor of the house.
Ensure your car has a full tank of gas because during the event, most gas stations might either be closed or packed with people; always have at least half a gas tank in your car.
During a Flood
The first thing to do during a flood is to get to a higher ground and keep your pets with you wherever you go. Avoid driving, walking, or swimming through standing water or flooded streets. Don’t walk close to downed power lines, especially after you touch water. You might get electrocuted if the lines are active when you walk into the puddle. Once you see a downed power line, report it immediately.
Beware of where you walk. Flooding can cause debris and mud to be swept around the ground. Ensure you don’t step on muddy waters or rubble because it may contain nails and other sharp objects that can pierce through your feet. Mud can also be slippery.
After a Flood
Once flooding is taken care of and you are no longer in danger, that’s not the end of the work. Install carbon monoxide detectors around your house. Talk to a professional before turning on the circuit breaker main power switch. You can check the homepage of website like Paradise Exteriors to know the right person to call so they will check your circuits. You want to be sure you are safe before doing anything.
Perform an in-depth inspection of your house. Hire a professional to check areas like septic tanks and sewer systems and to prevent missing essential places. Don’t plug electrical appliances and equipment until you are sure they have fully dried out and inspected. Some internal components can remain wet for a long time.
Make sure there are no gas leaks before you light a match or turn on a stove. Check valves and inspect gas lines. After the flood, expect to see snakes and other reptiles more than usual. Displaced wild animals are out looking for new shelters on high ground due to the natural disaster.
While wearing gloves, carefully remove debris from your house to prevent you from encountering unexpected inhabitants using your home as a temporary shelter. Don’t attempt to handle stray animals by yourself.
Move any damaged item to a safe area so it will air dry. Places with high humidity and stagnant air can lead to mold growth, so ensure it’s drying in an open area. Throw any food that has come in contact with floodwater to be damaged by high humidity.
Things made from paper or cardboard are fragile, so don’t open books, and avoid opening or separating documents until you are sure they have completely dried out.
Don’t pump water out of the basement quickly. If it’s flooded, there is a high chance the outside is flooded as well. Removing the water too soon may cause the exterior to collapse due to the water pressure that has built on the other side. This work requires a professional to do it, so consider hiring one.
Conclusion
Equipping yourself with the knowledge of what to do before, during, and after flooding can save and protect you and your family. Remember, in every situation, safety comes first. This article talks about all the knowledge you need to prepare for flooring; therefore, utilize it as much as you can so you will remain safe in this unforeseen disaster.
