Great tips to help you stay safe during or after a flood
September 28, 2010
Flood safety tips
Flooding is one of the most common natural disasters that can wash away property worth millions and even destroy lives. The phenomenon is a natural manifestation of heavy storms that can cover lands with more than five feet of water. They can trap animals, damage cars and other vehicles and corrode property. Floods may or may not come without a warning. They tend to move slowly; but you cannot afford to take the flooding water lightly; even two feet water deep can pull a person down with its strong current and damage a car.
Here are some ways to ensure that you stay safe during floods:
1. Listen to the radio or keep tab with the news on TV for information and updates on flood progression. One of the ways in which you may know about impeding floods is through the nature of the weather outside. For instance, it has been raining heavily for hours or if it has been raining almost non-stop for days, there could be an alert about a possible flood.
2. When you come to know about flash flooding, it is better to move to a higher ground because the water can wreak havoc on the low-lying areas
3. If the government officials tell you that the right thing to do is to evacuate, abide by their instructions. Secure your home well. More essential items, important documents and appliances to the upper floor.
4. Turn off the main switches and valves. Disconnect the plugs of electrical appliances. Do not touch electrical items, lest you may get electric shock; if you are wet.
Evacuation
During the process of evacuation, as you walk through moving water; be careful. It is said that six inches of moving water can make you trip and fall. So, if you have no choice but to move in water, go through the areas where the water is not moving. Make use of a stick to find out the firmness of the ground ahead of you,
If you are driving, beware of taking your car through the flooded areas. If the floodwaters rise around the car, leave the vehicle and move to the higher ground. It is foolish to be in the car, because the car and you may be swept away in no time. Also if you have to park your vehicle, make sure it is done on high ground and not near watery areas.
Do not stay near power lines or electric cable. Also if you are out, make sure that you immediately head your home or hotel. Standing near the tree can be dangerous too, because of the thunder and lightning.
Stay away from power lines and electrical wires. Electrical current travels through water and can be deadly. Report downed power lines to your power company. Make sure you help the elderly, children and disabled; they may not be able to run as fast as you and do need your guidance.
Hurricane Earl moves closer to Boston and Massachusetts
September 3, 2010
There is good and bad news in the continuing development of hurricane Earl as it makes it way up the Eastern coastline of the United States. The good news is that the hurricane appears to be weakening down to a category one hurricane and the likelyhood of a direct hit on the Boston area have been greatly reduced. The bad news is that the area is still going to receive substantial amounts of rain, suffer from high winds and could experience an occasional flash flood. The storm is projected to pass the Massachusetts area with the eye of the storm over 100 miles to the east in the Atlantic Ocean.
The projected storm path has traveled in a more eastern path after brushing the coastline of North Carolina late last night. The path of travel north up the coast has been better than expected for residents in Maryland, New Jersey, Long Island and Massachusetts that all could have been in a direct path of the one time category 4 hurricane. This years Atlantic hurricane season has been quite active with several hurricanes threatening the Eastern Coastline. The exit of hurricane Earl does not signal an all clear sign for property owners in potential hurricane states as there are several tropcial storms that are still begining to form in the Atlantic Ocean as they come off of the Coast from Africa.
