Know what to do “BEFORE THE STORM”

[Ron Fogelson]

Gas, electricity and water
•   Turn off gas, electricity & water supplies at mains. Find out where these are well in advance of flood
•   Unplug all electrical items not needed for weather info & store upstairs or as high up as possible
•   Put plugs into sinks & weigh them down with something heavy

Reduce flood water getting into your home
•   Silicone sealant - open doors & windows, smear layer of this around frame, shut & lock door/window.
•   Ideally, cover doors, windows & airbricks w/ plywood, sandbags or metal sheeting

FURNITURE AND APPLIANCES
•   Move as much furniture & electrical items as you can upstairs. Alternatively raise them up on bricks or blocks -             may be helpful for large appliances i.e. fridge/freezers
•   Move furniture away from walls, this helps when drying property later
•   If you can, roll up carpets & rugs & put them upstairs
•   If there is no time to remove curtains, hang them up over rail so they are kept above flood water
•   Leave internal doors open, or ideally, remove them & store upstairs

OUTSIDE THE HOUSE
•   Move anything not fixed down into a safer location, e.g. dustbins, garden chemicals car oil & similar
•   Move your car to higher ground to avoid damage
•   Weigh down manhole covers outside the house to prevent them floating away and leaving a hazardous hole
             LIGHTNING Occurs with all thunderstorms and averages 93 deaths and 300 injuries each year.
             Deaths in recent years occur:
•    Outdoors, talking On the telephone, taking a bath/shower

Tornadoes:
•    Winds can exceed over 200 mph,
•    Average of 80 deaths and 1,500 injuries each year
•    Form in severe thunderstorms
•    Frequently spawned by hurricanes

IF CAUGHT OUTSIDE
•   Find a low spot away from trees, fences, and poles.  Make sure the place you choose isn't subject to flooding.
•   Move to a sturdy building, do not take shelter in sheds or under isolated trees.
•   Get to higher ground if flash flooding / flooding is occurring.
•   If you're in the woods take shelter under the shorter trees.
•   If you feel your skin tingle or your hair stand on end, squat low to the ground on the balls of your feet. Place
             hands on your knees w/ head between them. Make yourself smallest target possible & minimize your contact
             with the ground.
•   Once flooding begins, abandon cars and climb to higher ground.

Do Not attempt to drive to safety, remember most flash flood deaths occur in cars.

[Bassinkorea]

Excellent post Fogy    hope EVERYBODY will be OK during this present storm