Safety Tips to Follow for a Flash Flood in Chatham-Kent

A flash flood in Chatham-Kent can threaten you and your home, and you must take adequate measures to protect yourself. The harmful waters caused by flash floods can contain various hazards, such as bacteria, mould, electricity, or rapid streams, which can risk your health and safety. It’s crucial to be aware of the common hazards during and after a home flood caused by flash flooding and take immediate action to prevent any harm.

Consuming or drinking contaminated products can lead to illness, and contact with floodwater may cause skin infections. Therefore, you must take all the necessary precautions to stay safe from the dangers of flash floods. Following some simple tips can make all the difference between life and death. Be proactive and protect yourself and your family from the hazards of flash floods.

What to Do Before a Flash Flood in Chatham-Kent

Here’s how to help keep your family and your home safe before a flash flood occurs: 

• Prepare an emergency kit, including first-aid supplies, nonperishable food, a flashlight, batteries, and cash.
• Make a family communication plan. Choose a friend or relative who lives in another community as your “check-in” person.
• Know your area’s flood risk. Check if your home is located within a flood zone. 
• If you reside in a particularly high-flood risk zone, raise the air conditioner, water heater, and electric panel.
• Review your flood insurance. Does it cover the contents of your home? If you don’t have flood insurance, consider acquiring it soon, as it goes into effect 30 days after purchasing it.

Review your flood insurance policy to ensure that your property is protected during a flash flood.

During a Flood Watch or Warning

If a flood watch or a flood warning has been issued, follow these tips:

• Be alert about current weather conditions and forecasts. Listen to local news for flood status updates.
• Prepare your home. Move essential items to higher levels. Store valuables in waterproof containers. Anchor heavy outdoor objects like grills and propane tanks.
• Fill up your car. Keep your gas tank full in case you need to evacuate.
• Keep cash on hand. In case ATMs are unavailable, have money ready. 
• Practice your family communication plan. Review it with family members so they know what to do.
• Know where to go. If directed by local authorities, evacuate immediately to higher ground or stay on high ground.
• If you must leave home, turn off all utilities at the main switches or valves if instructed. This will help prevent further damage and safety hazards.
• Stock up on supplies. Ensure your emergency kit contains enough nonperishable food and water for at least three days.
• Contact local authorities to find where to get sandbags or other flood-protection materials.
• Keep immunization records accessible or track the year of your most recent tetanus vaccination. Immunization records should be kept in a waterproof container.
• If you can’t evacuate, go to your highest possible floor since floodwater rises quickly. If time is short, get to the top floor, attic, or roof.
• Store exterior items inside, such as lawn furniture and trash cans, or keep them secured.

How to Prevent Infections During a Flash Flood in Chatham-Kent

If your home is flooded, there is a chance it could be contaminated with sewage. This can lead to infection, so follow these precautions accordingly: 

• Throw away food that has come in direct contact with floodwater, including bottled drinks and products in jars or any food that looks and smells unusual. If intact, canned goods may be washed and disinfected. 
• Discard perishable foods, like meat or eggs, left in temperatures above five degrees Celsius for more than four hours.
• All medicines, cosmetics, and other personal toiletries that have come into contact with floodwater should be discarded.
• If you’ve made contact with floodwater, practice good hygiene: wash hands frequently with soap and water.
• Don’t let children play in floodwater or with toys contaminated by floodwater.
• If you have an open skin wound, keep it clean, cover it with a waterproof bandage, and avoid exposure to floodwaters. 

Avoid Rapid-Flowing Waters

If a flash flood has inundated local roads in your area, follow these safety tips:

• Don’t drive through flowing water, even if it doesn’t appear deep. Your vehicle may break down or get swept away.
• Monitor road conditions and obey closure signs that indicate impacted roads. Be aware of road hazards such as mud, building debris, tree limbs, and potholes.
• Stay away from flowing water. Rapidly moving water can be deadly, even if you can swim.

Driving through flowing water can be a safety hazard.

Beware of Respiratory Hazards

Tips to avoid respiratory hazards include:

• Avoid areas with mould growth. Mould can form within 24-48 hours of a flood. It must be removed before you move back to your home. Hire a professional damage restoration company for mould and water damage cleanup.
• Only run gasoline, propane, and diesel-powered equipment in well-ventilated outdoor areas to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Avoid building materials containing lead, such as painted surfaces and pipes.
• Be aware of asbestos poisoning. Don’t enter areas where asbestos may have been used as construction material.

Steer Clear of Chemical Exposure

When returning to your home after a flood, be aware of potential chemical hazards that floodwaters may have caused.

First, don’t move propane tanks yourself, as they may cause a fire or explode. Call the fire rescue office immediately.

If you see car batteries in floodwaters, don’t get close to them to avoid electrical shock. Also, beware of any acid spilled from a damaged car battery.

How to Avoid Electrical and Gas Dangers

Flash floods also bring electrical and gas dangers. Here’s how to stay safe from them:

• Never touch electrical lines, wires, equipment, and fixtures during and after a flood. Report fallen power lines.
• Don’t walk or drive through floodwater if downed power lines are in it.
• Never enter your home if the main power switch was not turned off before flooding. Wait until a qualified electrician has declared your home safe before re-entering.
• If you detect or smell gas, evacuate your home immediately and notify the gas company.

Don’t Forget About Debris

In the wake of a flood, all kinds of debris may be potentially dangerous. Watch out for broken glass, construction or demolition debris, and tree limbs.

Has Flooding Caused Extensive Property Damage? PuroClean Restoration of Chatham-Kent is Here to Help!

Experiencing water damage in your home or business can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. PuroClean Restoration of Chatham-Kent is here to help you return to normal quickly and efficiently. Our expert team is equipped with advanced technology to assess and restore any level of water damage, from minor leaks to major floods. We prioritize your safety and work tirelessly to prevent further damage and mould growth. Don’t wait for the problem to get worse. Call us at (519) 628-5655 for a reliable and compassionate response. Let us take the stress out of water damage restoration.