How to behave during heavy rain and floods

The recent natural disaster in Odesa, which claimed the lives of ten people, is a sad occasion to recall the basic rules of behavior during heavy rain and flooding. Even if the disaster strikes by surprise, as it did on September 30, certain actions and precautions can save your life.

What to do during a heavy rainstorm

First of all, follow the weather service reports. Also, do not neglect to check social media: they often publish information about the current situation on the streets.
If there is no urgent need to go outside, stay indoors (at home, in an institution, in a store, etc.).

If the flood or flooding started suddenly

Your actions when you are at home

- Leave the flooded area as soon as possible.

- If possible, quickly take with you the most necessary things: communication equipment, documents and money (in waterproof packaging), medicines, warm clothes, drinking water and food.
Ideally, you should have a so-called emergency kit prepared in advance.

- Warn your neighbors about the danger. Take care of evacuating children, the disabled, and the elderly first.

- When leaving the premises, turn off all electrical appliances and unplug them.

- Turn off and shut off water and gas. Turn off the fire in the stove or fireplace.

- Take care of your pets. If it is impossible to take them with you, make sure they are not tied or locked and have a chance to escape on their own.

- Go to the upper floors of the building. In one-story buildings, go to the attic or, as a last resort, to the roof.

- Call 101 or 112 to inform the rescue service of your location and position. Follow the instructions of the rescue service.

- Do not use the phone unless it is absolutely necessary so that rescuers can contact you at any time.

If you are caught in a flood on the street

- Leave the flooded area as soon as possible. Much depends on the speed of the water rise. If you do not have time to get to a hill or elevation, climb to the nearest tall object (tree, fence, stall, upper floors of neighboring buildings).
At the same time: it is better not to escape on lampposts or power poles: in wet weather there is a high risk of electric shock.

- If you are with a child, keep him or her close, do not let them run in the rain.

- Do not try to escape from a heavy downpour in underground parking lots, underpasses, or tunnels. If a flood starts, they can become a trap for you.

- Avoid slopes where water runs fast. Even a shallow but fast flow can knock you down.

- Try to avoid or wade around places that are already flooded with water. It can hide open hatches, sharp objects, and broken live wires.

- Look closely to spot and avoid broken wires, the ends of which are hanging from poles or lying on the ground. be sure to notify the rescue services of such places.

- If possible, help people who are suffering from flooding nearby or call rescuers.

- If you are in deep water, try to take off your outerwear and shoes that will hinder your swimming and pull you to the bottom.

- To get out of a deep place, swim not against the current, but at an angle to it.

If the flood catches you while you are driving

- Slow down, do not make sudden maneuvers or turns.

- Turn on your headlights and hazard lights. Try to get out of the flooded area.

- If possible, avoid deep puddles (where the water reaches the middle of the wheel or higher). Water entering the vehicle can damage the electrical system or cause water hammer; in addition, holes or objects that can damage the vehicle are often hidden under water.

- In cases where you cannot avoid the flooded area, drive through the water in a low gear, at a constant speed, without sudden acceleration.

- If the engine stalls in the water, do not try to start it. Be prepared to leave the vehicle and move to the nearest safe place while the water level still allows you to do so.

- Park the vehicle on an elevated area, away from trees and power lines, and not on a slope that could be subject to a rapid flow of water.

Help in case of hypothermia

Hypothermia is one of the most common consequences of prolonged exposure to water.
First of all, remember what you should not do when helping someone who has suffered from hypothermia:

- Rigidly, vigorously massage.

- Immerse in a hot bath, put under a hot shower.

- Give alcohol.

Instead, you should:

- Call an ambulance by calling 103.

- Move the victim to a dry place, protected from the wind (if possible, to a warm room).

- Remove wet clothes, change into dry clothes, wrap in a blanket.

- Gradually warm up by applying heating pads or bottles of warm water to the neck, chest, armpits, groin.

- If the victim is conscious, give a warm drink (tea, compote).

- If you notice that the victim has stopped breathing or has a heartbeat, immediately start cardiopulmonary resuscitation until the medics arrive.

In case of an emergency, call: 101, 112.
Calling an ambulance - 103.

Віктор Турецький