Flooding and Climate Change – What To Do During and After a Flood

Floods, as you might know, are the large quantities of water present in an otherwise dry location. These happen because of overflowing rivers, lakes seas, and other nearby water sources (dams), or because of very heavy rainfall that sends draining systems over the edge. In the United States this is a very common problem, and as climate change worsens, so do such disasters.

What needs to be done in case of flooding

You might not always know when flooding is about to happen, but you’ll obviously feel its effect during, and definitely after. So, here are some steps you can take to keep yourself safe in case you’re caught off-guard.

During the flood

The immediate action you should take is to turn on a news source like a radio, or your phone, and see what the authorities recommend doing. Meanwhile, know that at any moment flash-flooding can happen, so avoid staying near high-risk areas (streams, large draining systems) and try to get to higher ground as soon as possible.

If you’re evacuating, the steps you should take if there’s time to spare are moving anything you can out of harm’s way (outdoor furniture or appliances) or bringing them inside, turning off the main electricity switch and water valve, and unplugging every electrical device. Under no circumstance should you handle electrical devices if water has already infiltrated your home. Put any valuable items that you can’t carry into water-proof containers to keep them from being damaged. Also, release any livestock to increase their survival chance and take any pets with you if possible.

If you’re going to be driving to a safer location, keep in mind:

• 6 inches of water can and will get inside your car and that might cause stalling or even stop the motor (get out immediately if the car stalls for too long).
• 12 inches of water will have your car floating and this is the point when driving is not an option anymore.
• 2 feet of water will carry your car (even if it is a 4×4) and send it along with the moving current.

After the flood

After the water level subsides, you might think it’s safe to return and assess the damage, but that might not always be the case. Consider the following:

• Keep your ears glued to the news, as additional flooding can still happen
• Water that is still moving poses a high risk, so go only on steady ground (depending on your area, snakes or alligators might be lurking in the water)
• Moderate to heavily damaged areas are off-limits as you might get trapped under falling debris
• Don’t add another rescue mission for the emergency workers unless your area is safer, or you are authorized and you must return (e.g. To save a person, an animal, etc.)
• Roads might still have water on them, or they might be closed down altogether (turn around if you encounter a stop in the way, your car might collapse the weakened structure)
• If your house has been deemed safe to return to, Ice Energy suggests using dehumidifiers right away to prevent or cut down on mold spreading so you won’t have an extra expensive step to take afterward
• To avoid further accidents, keep the electricity turned off until all water and moisture has been dealt with

Prioritize your Health

Three basic steps that anyone can take in order to keep health risks to a minimum are:

1. Don’t drink just anything. Remember that any water may now be contaminated and so it isn’t safe for drinking, try to find safe resources in stores or follow the news to hear if the water supply in your area has been affected.
2. Solve the leaks. Repair any pipework, water storage units, tanks, and anything that might’ve been damaged, and drain them of the polluted water. Either do it by yourself if you can or try to find help as soon as possible.
3. Sanitize, sanitize, sanitize. Anything that got in contact with the water needs to be scrubbed down and disinfected right away. Even if it might not seem necessary, you never know what touched what during an event like this.

Why is Climate Change a factor?

There are a few reasons why this is an important factor in the more frequent floodings, seeing as they keep breaking the records year after year, and those are as follows:

High Heat

In the last century, the overall temperature has increased by 1.8°F. Although it might seem an unimportant number, it has actually caused a 4% higher wetness, meaning that when it rains, it pours, and when it pours, it comes with a high chance of flood. And it will continue to worsen, as experts say there will be another 50% jump by the end of this century.

Sea Level Rising

Since heat levels are going up, sea levels follow, as the ice caps melt at a faster rate. An approximate height of 8 inches has been added to the oceans’ level, bringing the rising rate to a new high.

More Natural Disasters

Rain isn’t the only phenomenon happening more often. Storms are amped up as well, and those can turn into highly potent hurricanes. Those in category 4, and even 5, have been showing up all around the U.S., bringing with them incredible damage and leaving thousands without a home or causing some of their deaths. Like in the case of higher heat, hurricanes are also expected to worsen as time passes.

The combination of those 3 turns flooding into an unavoidable situation. Other than doing damage to properties, it also causes a spike in disease, as overflowing water gathers from many sources, including sewers, bringing all kinds of bacteria and viruses along, turning potable water into polluted water.

Always stay safe

Many have thought that “It doesn’t look so bad.” or “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing!” and the outcome hasn’t been as good as they’d hoped. Never underestimate the power of natural disasters and always try to stay one step ahead. Even by doing so, there’s no way of predicting when things will start to spiral out of control. As they say, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.