Actions in case of flood and flood threat

The spills of numerous rivers and reservoirs on the territory of Russia are a dangerous, but not a rare natural phenomenon. Knowing what kind of flood action is necessary to take is vital for many citizens of our country. Unfortunately, someone approaches this issue carelessly, others simply do not know what manipulations and in what sequence it is necessary to undertake. The result of such negligence and lack of education can be financial losses, health problems and a threat to human life.

Causes of natural disaster

Before determining the actions for a flood, it is necessary to talk in more detail about the nature of this phenomenon. There are a lot of reasons for its occurrence, among them:

• The natural factor (abundant precipitation, sudden temperature changes and melting of snows, strong winds, chasing water from the seas of the seas).
• The human factor (destruction of the dam, water discharge, etc.).

Floods can be predicted in advance, hydrometeorological centers are involved in the collection and analysis of information, as a rule they provide accurate information 72 hours before the disaster, however, preliminary forecasts can be made in advance.

Classifications of flooding

Actions in the flood are largely determined by the strength of the disaster. So, experts often use the following classification:

• Low level. It is observed quite often, at least once in 10 years, happens on the plains of rivers.
• High level. They are observed once in 20 years, characterized by a significant flooding of the flat territory, can damage the activities and health of people, lead to the need for evacuation of the population.
• Outstanding level. Such floods occur not more than once in 50 years, and may be less frequent. Characterized by the need for mass evacuation, flooding cities, villages, settlements, agricultural land.
• Catastrophic. They are noted once in 100 or 200 years. They differ in significant flooding, introduction of the emergency regime at the state level.

Collecting things before evacuation

What should be the actions during a threat and during a flood regarding the collection of essentials? When preparing for a planned evacuation, one should be guided by the principles of reasonableness and collect with them only the most necessary items for life, the remaining belongings - carefully packed and sent to places where water is supposedly not reachable to them. To the things of first necessity it is possible to carry:

• Food products (for up to 72 hours).
• Money and the most important values.
• Warm and practical clothes, comfortable shoes.
• Bedding, a warm blanket, a minimum of toiletries to maintain hygiene.
• Passport and documents.
• First-aid kit (specific drugs and general-purpose medicines).

All things must be securely packed and located near a person. Remember: the actions of the population in a flood should be clear and consistent. Only in this case you can not forget everything necessary to survive the blows of the elements.

Preparation of the dwelling

What should be the actions of the population when a flood threatens to strengthen their own homes? Preparation for meeting with the elements should be thorough:

• When living on the lower floors to strengthen the windows with boards and plywood, other strong materials that can hold back the pressure of water.
• Fold especially valuable property in waterproof packaging, take it to the maximum height in your home (best shelves in attics).
• Remove agricultural implements and any items that present a potential danger in a secluded and inaccessible place.
• In advance, collect essentials that are planned for use in retirement.
• Make an evacuation plan from the premises and strengthen its path.
• De-energize electricity, shut off gas, water, extinguish the stoves.

Rules for emergency situations

Actions in case of a sudden flood should not differ from the standard rules, however, in such a situation, as a rule, there is no time for observing a significant list of recommendations. Quite often it happens that the insidious element catches 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 saving actions in this case will include the following items:

• Turn off the main communications in the house or apartment (gas, water, electricity).
• Collect money, medicines, documents, pack them in waterproof bags, take with them when evacuating.
• If possible, collect food, drinking water, warm clothes and place them on the upper floors of the apartment building or in the attic of the private.
• Go to the evacuation point, if this is not possible, climb to the highest point and wait for help.
• Do not be passive, give signs of your whereabouts to rescuers. To do this, use light flares or flashlights in the dark, or hang bright cloths (clothes) in the light.
• While in the water, count your strengths, get rid of heavy shoes and clothes, try to find objects that keep afloat, and cling to them, keep calm, panic takes away much needed physical strength.
• Follow the advice of rescuers, do not create difficult situations in their work, this jeopardizes the lives of all rescued.
• Self-evacuation with the already existing flooding should be carried out only in exceptional cases, that is, with a threat to life and health of people, the lack of food and clean water for a long time.

Help drowning

All actions in case of flooding should be aimed at preserving life and health of a person. If you see that someone is drowning, soberly assess their strengths and try to help without putting yourself and others at risk. You can help by the following actions:

• To encourage a person.
• Give a drowning object, for which it can catch and hold on the water.
• Call for additional help.

If you feel the power to pull out the victim yourself, swim to him from behind and tow him to the nearest safe point. Remember, a drowning person often can not adequately assess his behavior.

How to navigate the flow of water

The actions of the population in flooding should be reconciled and calm. If you are already in a stream of water, an additional excerpt will not hurt you. Remember, even with a shallow depth of inundation, a rapid current can knock you off your feet. Before diving, it is better to remove excess clothing, get rid of all the heavy and pulling to the bottom. Take care of the ballast, for which you can grab to stay afloat. To neglect such a recommendation is not necessary, even the best trained swimmer can end up in the water, especially in dirty and cold.

The main task - to nail down to any protected place. In the water it is dangerous enough, the forces quickly leave the person, he starts to freeze, panic, may hit hard objects, entrained by water, get mechanical injuries.

Rules of behavior after water withdrawal

It is extremely important to know and remember not only the order of actions during a flood, but the rules of behavior upon its completion. So, experts recommend to the population:

• Control the receipt of new instructions from authorities and rescuers coming on the radio or other means of communication.
• Before entering the living quarters, carefully look around, make sure that there are no overhanging electrical wires, the integrity of the building structure, no significant damage to the roof and walls.
• If you get into an apartment or a house, do not hurry 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 conventional flashlights.
• As soon as possible, try to dry the apartment and ensure its full airing.
• Before using utensils, any other household items, they should be carefully decontaminated, such measures are applied to almost every thing in the house.

Instead of completing

Once again, we will formulate priority actions in case of a flood threat. Without fail they must be reduced to the following postulates:

• Do not panic, follow the approved rules of action and rescuers' prompts.
• It is forbidden to drink unboiled water in a flooded area, eat foods that have not undergone heat treatment.
• Before leaving the house, you must collect essentials (these are the basic documents, some cash, basic medicines, a minimum of food and clean water), do not take heavy and superfluous items, try to cover them securely in a place inaccessible to water.
• In an emergency situation, when the water is approaching, and there is no possibility to evacuate, pick up and take the highest, fortified point (a solid tree, the roof of the house), do not forget to regularly give signals to rescuers.