The biggest problem with flood safety is the fact that you probably won’t have too much information about the approaching disaster and its severity before it actually knocks on your door. In other words, no one can tell you for sure whether to protect your house from massive destructive flooding or just reinforce the building in the face of annual snowmelt or precipitation floods, which may not be as spectacular as flash floods, but can cause even more damage, health, and even life hazards.
That is why in this article, we shall go over the 2 most probable scenarios:
- you got your warning beforehand and have enough time and resources to protect from flooding;
- The flooding is already approaching your area, and the time is very limited.
In both cases, the whole purpose of your flood safety measures remains the same: to stay safe and healthy, avoid injuries, health hazards, etc., and protect your property from water damage as much as possible.
However, the approach to flood safety in both cases will be entirely different. In the first case, you may have enough time to research different options and consider various scenarios, from staying in the building and therefore reinforcing it accordingly to evacuating the area after floodproofing the property as much as possible.
In the second case, however, you may be captured by the disaster and have no options to choose from and therefore need to act fast and most rationally to minimize the risk for you and your family as well as your property.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR A FLOOD BEFOREHAND.
Let’s say it is the most optimistic scenario. You have heard about the approaching flooding beforehand and have time to rearrange and protect your property and decide whether you are staying in the house or moving to a safer area.
Here are the essential steps to take:
- Block the doorways, gates, and windows – use flood barriers for home to protect every passage from approaching floodwater. Install flood barriers as window shutters to prevent additional damage and hazards in case wind, or some flying objects break the windows. Use extension poles to connect several flood barriers together and create a 3-foot dike for a wider passage like a garage gate or around any outdoor object like a swimming pool, shed, etc.;
- Move all the outdoor furniture and equipment inside – not only can they get damaged beyond repair by the floodwater, but such objects can become an additional hazard to your property once caught by the water stream;
- Protect the vehicles – water damage can be a serious safety hazard for any kind of vehicle. It can damage the electricity system, destroy the tires, and lead to the development of mold and fungus in the upholstery. Make sure to move all vehicles to higher ground or install flood gates to reinforce garage passage and keep water away from your car;
- Install non-return valves – this simple device prevents floodwater from entering your house through pipes and also keeps rats, frogs, snakes, and other pests from getting into your house during flooding.