Spills of numerous rivers and reservoirs on the territory of Russia are a dangerous, but far from rare natural phenomenon. Knowing what flood action needs to be taken is vital for many citizens of our country. Unfortunately, someone approaches this issue blithely, while others simply don’t know what manipulations and in what sequence should be undertaken. Such negligence and lack of education can result in financial losses, health problems and a threat to human life.
Causes of Natural Disaster
Before determining the actions during the flood, it is necessary to talk in more detail about the nature of such a phenomenon. The reasons for its occurrence are many, among them:
- The natural factor (heavy rainfall, a sharp change in temperature and snowmelt, strong winds driving water from the bays of the seas).
- The human factor (dam destruction, water discharge, etc.).
Floods can be predicted in advance, hydromet centers are involved in the collection and analysis of information, they usually provide accurate information up to 72 hours before a natural disaster, however, preliminary forecasts can be made in advance.
Flood Classifications
Flood actions are largely determined by the power of natural disaster. So, experts most often use the following classification:
- Low level. It is observed quite often, at least once every 10 years, and occurs on the plains of rivers.
- High level. Observed once every 20 years, characterized by significant flooding of the flat territory, can harm the activities and health of people, lead to the need to evacuate the population.
- Outstanding level. Such floods occur no more than 1 time in 50 years, and may be less common. They are characterized by the need for mass evacuation, flooding of cities, villages, settlements, agricultural land.
- Catastrophic. Celebrated once every 100 or 200 years. They are distinguished by significant flooding, the introduction of an emergency regime at the state level.
Collecting items before evacuation
What should be the actions during the threat and during the flood regarding the collection of essentials? In preparing for a planned evacuation, one should be guided by the principles of rationality and collect with them only the most necessary items for life, the remaining belongings - they are carefully packed and sent to places where water cannot presumably reach them. The essentials include:
- Food (for up to 72 hours).
- Money and the most important values.
- Warm and practical clothes, comfortable shoes.
- Bed linen, a warm blanket, a minimum of toiletries to maintain hygiene.
- Passport and documents.
- First-aid kit (specific medicines and general-purpose drugs).
All items must be securely packed and in the vicinity of the person. Remember: flood actions should be clear and consistent. Only in this case you can not forget everything you need in order to survive the blows of the elements.
Home preparation
What should be the actions of the population in case of flood threat regarding the strengthening of their own homes? Preparation for a meeting with the elements should be thorough:
- When living on the lower floors, strengthen the windows with boards and plywood, other strong materials that can restrain the pressure of water.
- Fold especially valuable property in waterproof packaging, remove it to the maximum height in your house (best of all are shelves in attics).
- Remove agricultural equipment and any items of potential danger in a secluded and inaccessible place.
- Collect in advance the essentials planned for use during the departure.
- Make an evacuation plan from the room and strengthen its path.
- Turn off the electricity, turn off the gas, water, put out the stove.
Emergency Rules
Actions during a flash flood should not differ from the standard rules, however, in such a situation, as a rule, there is no time to comply with a significant list of recommendations. Quite often it happens that the insidious element takes people by surprise, leaving no chance of salvation. In such cases, you should still try not to panic and think rationally. The shortest list of rescue actions in this case will include the following items:
- Disconnect the main communications in the house or apartment (gas, water, electricity).
- Collect money, medicines, documents, pack them in waterproof bags, take with you when evacuating.
- If possible, collect food, drinking water, warm clothes and place them on the upper floors of an apartment building or in the private attic.
- Head to the evacuation point, if this is not possible, climb to the highest point and expect help.
- Do not be passive, give rescuers signs of their whereabouts. For this, it is necessary to use light rockets or flashlights in the dark, or to hang bright canvases of cloth (clothing) in the light.
- While in the water, calculate your strengths, get rid of heavy shoes and clothes, try to find things that are afloat, and cling to them, keep calm, panic takes away much-needed physical strength.
- Follow the advice of the rescuers, do not create difficult situations in their work, this jeopardizes the lives of all those saved.
- Independent evacuation in case of already existing flooding should be carried out only in exceptional cases, that is, if there is a threat to the life and health of people, the absence of food and clean water for a long time.
Help drowning
All flood actions should be aimed at preserving human life and health. If you see that someone is drowning, soberly assess your strength and try to help without putting yourself and other people in danger. You can help with the following actions:
- Encourage a person.
- Give a drowning object, for which he can cling and hold on water.
- Call for additional help.
If you feel the strength to pull out the victim yourself, swim up to him from behind and tow to the nearest safe point. Remember, a sinking person often cannot adequately assess his behavior.
How to navigate in a stream of water
Flood actions should be calibrated and calm. If you are already in a stream of water, additional exposure will not bother you. Remember, even with a slight flooding in depth, a rapid current can knock you down. Before immersing in water, it is better to remove excess clothing, get rid of everything heavy and pulling to the bottom. Look for ballast that you can grab to stay afloat. It is not worth neglecting such a recommendation, even the best trained swimmer can run out of strength in water, especially in dirty and cold.
The main task is to get to any protected place. In the water it is quite dangerous, the forces quickly leave a person, he begins to freeze, panic, he can hit hard objects, carried away by water, get mechanical injuries.
Rules of conduct after waste water
It is extremely important to know and remember not only the procedure for the flood, but the rules of conduct upon its completion. So, experts recommend to the population:
- Control the receipt of new instructions from authorities and rescuers arriving on the radio or other means of communication.
- Before entering the living quarters, carefully look around, make sure there are no overhanging electrical wires, the integrity of the building structure, and no significant damage to the roof and walls.
- Once in an apartment or house, do not rush to connect communications, get them checked by specialists, and only then use electricity and other benefits.
- If you need a light source in the room, refrain from using lighters, matches and other devices with an open flame, it is likely that gas can accumulate in a closed room, use ordinary flashlights.
- As soon as possible, try to dry the apartment and ensure its full ventilation.
- Before using dishes, any other household items, they should be thoroughly decontaminated, similar measures apply to almost every thing in the house.
Instead of completing
Once again, we formulate priority actions in case of a flood threat. Without fail, they should be reduced to the following postulates:
- Do not succumb to panic, follow the approved rules of action and prompts of rescuers.
- It is forbidden to drink unboiled water in flooded areas, to consume products that have not undergone heat treatment.
- Before leaving the house, it is imperative to collect essential things (these are basic documents, some cash, basic medicines, a minimum of food and clean water), do not take heavy or unnecessary items, try to reliably hide them in a place inaccessible to water.
- In an emergency, when the water rises, but there is no way to evacuate, pick up and occupy the highest, most fortified point (solid wood, roof of the house), do not forget to regularly give signals for rescuers.