Floods can be really scary. The worst thing is that they happen worldwide today and most of the time without warning. In fact, flooding is the most frequent natural disaster and the second one (after hurricanes) in the mortality rates. And in most cases, the steps you take before flooding determines how much damage the water will cause your house or business.
While today experts claim that over 200,000 London households are particularly vulnerable to floods and over 90% of American families have some sort of water damage due to flooding, it is essential to understand how to prepare for the disaster even if you live in an area where floods are seen pretty unlikely.
In this article, we shall explain what to do before flooding to prepare your house or business for the upcoming flood season and minimize the possible water damage.
Learn to hear the flood warnings
People underestimate flood warnings and sometimes don`t pay attention to the official release. This neglect mostly comes from the fact that weather services and forecasts are historically not the most reliable and credible things in our lives.
However, since floods are happening more and more often worldwide and have severe consequences for the economy, authorities started taking flood warnings and protocols much more seriously. So should you. The first and most essential thing to do before flooding is to learn about it and prepare accordingly.
This preparation includes anti-flooding solutions like installing flood barriers, flood doors, valves, and other devices that would prevent water from getting into your house. It is also essential to prepare yourself mentally, work out a flood plan, estimate where you can go safely if you have to evacuate from the house, and plan to restore your home or business in case of severe water damage.
Once you manage to process and consider all those things before flooding, you have a bigger chance to minimize the damage and return to everyday life sooner after the water retreats.
Your flood Plan
A floodplain is a set of actions and precautions you take before flooding and the arrangements to help you stay safe and minimize the damage if the disaster strikes. Local authorities always provide flood plans for the residents of floodplain areas. For example, since London has a rich history of flooding, residents and business owners of particular districts have unique flood plans that help them evacuate safely if the water decides to cover the city once again.
However, you can develop your own flood plan that will consider all the peculiarities of your household or business:
- Evacuation - estimate where you can evacuate if you have to abandon your house during the flood, when and how to get there safely;
- Flood Insurance - get a flood insurance plan before flooding. It will help you minimize financial losses from the disaster.
- Emergency kit - create emergency storage before flooding that will contain enough food for all family members and meds, personal hygiene products, warm and water-proof clothing. Put all the goods into water-proof containers and place the emergency kit in the safest area of the house, where water would get last;
- Know when to evacuate - if the authorities tell you to evacuate, do so immediately follow all the instructions. In case no such warning has been issued, it may be safer to stay inside rather than get out in the streetю. However, set yourself limits and indications that will help you make a decision on time.
Prevent water damage
Once you start suspecting that your area might get flooded soon or have received an official flood warning, you should start taking measures before flooding to minimize water damage to your property:
- Protect the valuables - move all valuable appliances, documents, cash money, or any other belongings away from the basement, garage, or any other area of the house that is most likely to get flooded;
- Protect electric appliances - these are the most vulnerable to water damage. You may have to replace them entirely once they are touched by floodwater in many cases. Make sure to elevate them from the floor or even move them to the upper floors of the house if possible;
- Secure electricity - before flooding strikes, make sure that there won`t be any open, eclectic wires or sockets touching the water;
- Clean gutters - make sure that the drainage works appropriately and will derive water from your valuables;
- Protect the house - installing flood barriers before flooding will save you from flood damage and make your home a safe and secure place during the most severe flood.
Contact Dam Easy and learn about our flood barriers and other innovative solutions that will help you avoid all the dangers and consequences of seasonal or spontaneous floods.
Our flood barriers are easy to use, can be installed and removed in a matter of several minutes, and don`t take much storage place. Along with proven efficiency, all those features have gained our trust from thousands of home and business owners worldwide.
Protect your house or business before flooding strikes and enjoy the peace of mind and safety of your home.
