Floods are a frequent hazard, especially in areas that receive heavy rains. Floodwaters can cause damage to homes or property, and can even lead to death if they reach cars or other vehicles.
There are steps that you can take to protect your property and yourself. Here are five flood safety tip:
Don't Drive Into a Flooding Area
If you're in your car and floodwaters begin to rise, get out immediately. If you can't get out of the car, abandon it and move to higher ground. The water can quickly sweep your vehicle away. Floodwater can also make it dangerous to walk in.
Barricades: Be on the lookout
Avoid driving around barricades, which are used by local responders to direct traffic. If the road is blocked by water, it can be dangerous to drive across them.
Obey Evacuation Orders
Follow evacuation instructions carefully if given by authorities. Radio stations can provide updated information. Make sure you lock all doors and windows if you are directed to leave your house.
If you need to turn off utilities, disconnect electrical appliances. This will help prevent contamination from your pipes.
Create a family emergency preparedness plan
Timothy Satty MD, assistant professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School explains to SELF how families and pets will be evacuated in an emergency. It should include how the family will communicate, where each person will go in case of an evacuation and what emergency supplies they will have available.
Gather a Flood Disaster Supply Kit
Consider packing a bag containing personal items for each member of your family in case flooding is likely. Timothy Satty suggests that these items should include nonperishable food, water, a flashlight and first-aid kits.
Stay Informed
Follow NOAA Weather Radio on the web for current and future conditions in your region. You can also check social media for information. You can also receive emergency information via your local radio, television station or emergency alerting service.
Get a battery-operated radio
Radio is your main source for information about the situation. It can help you decide where to leave and what to do next, Jaclyn Rothenberg, the director of public affairs for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), tells SELF.
Observe Land features
It's important to understand where you live, work and play. This is important for identifying areas that could become flooded, Jaclyn Rothenberg told SELF. This includes low areas, storm drains and storm drains, bridges, storm drainage ditches and culverts.
Watch out for flash-flood alerts and watches that are issued when water levels will rise quickly. These can be very scary and overwhelming, but they don’t have to cause any damage for you or anyone in your family.
Floods: How to Prepare Your Home
Floods can be avoided by making sure your home waterproof and well-built. Timothy Satty also suggests adding some space to your home in case of an emergency,
FAQ
How to Navigate Without a Compass, or with it?
A compass is not able to tell you where your destination is, but it can help guide you back home if necessary.
You can navigate using three different methods:
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By landmarks
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By magnetic North (using an compass).
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By stars
Landmarks are objects that you recognize when you see them. They include trees, buildings, rivers, etc. Landmarks are useful because they provide a visual clue to where you are.
Magnetic North simply refers to the direction that the Earth's magnet field points. If you look up at a skyline, you will notice that the sun seems to be moving across it. However, the earth’s magnetic field actually causes it to move around the Earth. Although it appears that the sun is moving across the sky and around the horizon, it actually does so. At noon, it is directly overhead. At midnight, the sun will be directly below you. Because the earth's magnet field is constantly changing, the exact position of the magnetic North Pole changes every day. This could mean you can be off-course by quite a bit in one day.
Another method of navigation is to use stars. Stars appear as if they rise and fall over the horizon. These points are in space and can be used to locate your position relative to other places.
What time does it take for help to be found after you have lost your way?
It all depends on several factors.
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You are where you need to be
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Which type of terrain are you in?
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No matter whether you have cell reception
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Whether you have been seen by someone
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Whether you're injured
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How dehydrated you are
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No matter if you've been drinking water.
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It doesn't matter if you have had food recently
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It doesn't matter if you are wearing the right clothing
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You can carry a map or your compass.
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How familiar do you feel with the region?
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How long have you been lost?
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How much time you spent looking for help
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How long does people take to notice you are gone?
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It is amazing how quickly they search for you
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How many rescuers attract you?
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How many rescues were you able to receive?
What is your best survival tool in the event you lose everything?
The compass will tell you which direction north is. It also tells us how far we've traveled since our beginning point. If you're traveling somewhere with mountains, the compass may not always show you where you need to go. But if you're on a flat plain, the compass will usually give you what you need to know.
You could also use a rock or a tree as a reference point if you don't own a compass. Although you would still need to locate a landmark to guide yourself, at least you would know where north is.
How do you choose the best knife to suit your needs?
Choosing the best knife for your needs isn't easy. There are so many brands out there that claim to be the best.
Which one is the best? How do you choose?
First, consider what type of tasks your knife will perform.
Do you plan to cut wood, skin or chop animals, or slice bread?
Are you hunting or fishing with your knife? Is it meant for camp cooking or kitchen cutting?
Do you intend to use it for opening bottles and cans? Do you plan to open boxes or packages?
Does your knife have to be strong enough?
What about cleaning it after every use? Is it something you intend to do often?
Does it have to maintain its edge well over the course of time?
Why are survival skills essential?
It may not be possible to have food and water at all times, but being prepared can help you live longer.
It is important to learn how you can take care of others and yourself. You won't survive in a crisis if this is not something you know.
If you're going into the wilderness, you will need to be able to build shelters, make fires, and find food.
These are skills everyone needs to have. These skills will enable you to remain safe and sound while camping.
What are the basics of survival in the wild and what do they teach?
If you live off the soil, you must learn how to build a fire. You don't just need to light a match, you also need to know how friction and flint can be used to create a fire. You also need to know how to avoid getting burned by the flames.
You need to know how shelter is built from natural materials such leaves, grasses and trees. You'll need to know how best to use these materials to stay warm at night. You'll also need to know how much water is necessary to survive.
Other survival skills
While these things can help you live longer, they won't be as important as learning how to light a flame. For example, you can eat many different kinds of plants and animals, but if you don't know how to light a fire, you won't be able to cook them.
Additionally, you'll need to know the best places and methods to find food. You could become sick or starve if you don't have this knowledge.
What are the fundamental skills required to survive in survivalist camping and how can you practice them?
Prepare yourself for all eventualities when you travel on an adventure. It is important to be able to adapt to extreme situations.
You need to be prepared for every type of weather. These precautions can lead to death if you do not take them.
Statistics
- In November of 1755, an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 6.0 and a maximum intensity of VIII occurred about 50 miles northeast of Boston, Massachusetts. (usgs.gov)
- so you can be 100 percent hands-free, and there's less chance you'll put your torch down and lose it. (nymag.com)
- Not only does it kill up to 99.9% of all waterborne bacteria and parasites, but it will filter up to 1,000 liters of water without the use of chemicals. (hiconsumption.com)
- We know you're not always going to be 100% prepared for the situations that befall you, but you can still try and do your best to mitigate the worst circumstances by preparing for a number of contingencies. (hiconsumption.com)
External Links
How To
How to build a lean-to shelter
There are many types of lean tos in the United States. They are made from wood or steel poles covered by tarps. The roof is typically added after the walls, floor, or ceiling have been built.
A lean-to is a temporary shelter constructed at the side of a building when the weather does not permit the construction of a permanent shelter. It can also be called a "leaning-to shed", "leaning-to cabin", or "leaning-to house".
There are many types to lean-tos.
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A simple wooden frame covered in tarpaulin. This type of leaning-to is very common in rural locations.
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Lean-to tent is a structure of poles supporting a roof that houses a tarpaulin.
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A lean-to cabin, also known as a "cabin-on-frame," consists of a platform supported by posts and beams.
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A leaning to shed is also known by the names "shelter -on-a–pole" and "paddock house". It consists primarily of a framework made up of poles, supports and a cover.
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A lean-to garage, also known as a "garage on-stilts" (or "overhang"), is a steel frame that rests on concrete stilts.
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A lean-to studio, also called a "studio-on-a-frame" or "studio-on-a-post," consists of a framework made up of two parallel horizontal members (posts) and one perpendicular member (beam).
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A lean-to greenhouse, also called a "greenhouse-on-a-post," consists of three parallel horizontal members (posts), one perpendicular member (beam), and a canopy.