Floods

  • Floods
    • Origen: Water submerges land temporary
    • Trigger: Increased amount of water; might be snow smelting, rain or excess of natural water
    • Danger: Destroy property, drown people and kill
      • Tide from sea: Traps people
      • Accumulation of lakes: Submerges villages
      • Increased water flow in rivers: Submerges roads
    • Behaviour: Gradual onset, but might be difficult to get away from
    • Place: Mainly depends on the access of water, inclination and ground conditions
    • Other: It is possible to predict potential risk and the onset
      • Significant when covers village, city and roads.
    • Precaution: Be careful when in risk periods and areas.
      • Rain seasons is particularly dangerous
    • Closedown of Society: Fast and lasting about a week

     

     

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WFET on Floods

We need to be more conscious about where we are. If we are in a moist area we might consider us to be in a risk area, then we should be conscious about where we stay. Remember that water flows down hillsides, in rivers and the least resistance road. The more distance to these flowing areas the better. Floods happen from time to time, but can be predicted to a certain degree. Ask local people about floods in the area where you are. They will give information about risk areas and safer areas. If a flooding occurs you have to act. Sometimes floods are more frequent after rain. Everything around you is non-functional from the moment the flood starts; roads closes, schools closes and shops closes. It is a temporarily closedown. In prolonged floods we also find an increase in diseases. That is why you have to plan; plan BEFORE the emergency.

This is called to make your emergency plan. That is IF the worst case scenario happens, a flood. What do you do? First, you need to set your parameters; where is it more dangerous to be if a flood comes. Floods are luckily more predictable than earthquakes, and that is good for us. Divide into different zones red, yellow and green. When you move into a yellow zone you need to have a way out if something happen or a safe place to hide. Safe places are places where the water is not that destructive; for example on the roof of a house. When moving into red zone you need to me on 100% alert, have a pre-defined way out and pre-defined clues for you to pull out; if something happen you need to have a survivor plan. Perhaps most important than everything, STAY CALM! Panic is the biggest killer during floods.