• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
Download
 
Disaster Preparedness: Flood
Of all the disasters that happen in the U.S. (like hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, stormsystems, and a myriad of others), none are quite so common as flooding. Both flooding andflash flooding happen in all 50 states, and virtually everyone lives in a flood zone, thoughthe severity of the danger can vary greatly. Every year, flooding causes over 2 billion dollarsof property damage, and kills approximately 200 people.Although flooding is so common, it is still the leading cause of weather-related deathsworldwide--and not just because of drowning, either. Flooding upsets electrical panels andpower lines, often causing fires or electricity-related deaths. It can also spread disease andspoil food and water, resulting in people dying of sickness and malnutrition.Despite all of these dangers and statistics, however, floods are very manageable if peoplewill just take the time to inform themselves and prepare. As always, the first step tosurviving any disaster is to be knowledgeable about all the possibilities and terms thatsurround it. In the case of flooding, people should understand the difference between flashfloods and floods, and between a watch and a warning.While flood waters tend to rise slowly and typically as a result of river overflow or snowmelt,flash floods occur suddenly and are usually in the form of a ten to twenty foot wall of watercarrying dangerous debris that it has swept up. A flood or flash flood watch is a generalizedmessage that tells people that in the next six hours or so, they need to be wary of anyexcessive rainfall.In the case of a flash flood, any people who live in a flash flood zone need to securethemselves, their families, and their property to brace against any sudden flooding. Awarning, on the other hand, means that a flood or flash flood is imminent and that peopleshould evacuate when told to do so, and should seek higher ground.Knowing these terms will help people survive flooding, but this without any otherpreparation will not be as helpful as taking steps to get ready for the disaster. The firstthing to do in preparation is to have a plan. In order to do this successfully, every memberof the household must fully understand what to do in case of a flood.Everyone should know of at least two meeting places (inside and outside of theneighborhood), an out-of-state contact should be established, and each person should knowwhere all the emergency supplies are located in their house, workplace, and/or school.Once a plan has been established and all possibilities have been accounted for, then it istime to prepare anemergency kit. Many people falsely believe that all they need is a72-hour emergency kit. And while of course having three days’ worth of first aid suppliesand food and water is better than having none at all, these days, authorities like FEMA(Federal Emergency Management Agency) recommend having at leasttwo weeks’ worth of supplieson hand in order to plan for any disaster.Any emergency kit should first have afirst aid kit, since injury is imminent during a naturaldisaster. These first aid kits should have, at minimum, supplies like bandages, antisepticwipes, over-the-counter pain medication, splints, gauze pads, a thermometer, and anyother prescription medications or special supplies a particular person might need. Thesesupplies can either be gathered manually or purchased altogether at emergencypreparedness businesses, likeThe Ready Store.Besides the first aid, it’s also crucial to have two weeks’ worth of food and water, asdiscussed above. Thewateris of particular importance, first because humans cannot livewithout it for a much shorter time than they can food, and second because in the event of flooding, it is very possible that the disaster could damage water mains or reservoirs. Thiscould leave whole cities or counties without any drinkable water, so it is important to beself-sufficient in this case.Finally, every emergency kit should also include some source of light (i.e.flashlights,candles and lightsticks),sleeping bagsand some form of shelter, and water purifying devices (includingtabletsandfilters). These are the general supplies that every person should have with them, just in case. However, there are more specific needs that peoplemay have to fulfill, which would result in extra supplies in their emergency kits. Some
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...