Floods wreak havoc all over the world,
causing terrible damage to homes,
ruining infrastructure,
drowning people,
and spreading disease after the flooding stops.
What do you need to know to stay safe?
Well, here's how you can survive a flood,
Before a flood, prepare for the worst situation that could possibly happen.
This includes bottled water,
a battery-operated radio,
freshly-charged batteries,
and bug spray.
When a flood begins,
you wont have time to go shopping,
so if heavy rains or flooding are expected,
listen to the radio, so you'll be able to hear warnings from the government.
A "flood watch" means that a flood could happen,
but there's no danger yet.
A "flood warning" means the flood has started or will start soon.
A flash flood is really dangerous,
because it happens so fast.
If there's any chance of a flash flood,
start preparing right away.
Second, if you live near ground level,
That includes your laptop,
important papers, TVs,
and any pets that can't move by themselves
like fish in an aquarium, or birds in a cage.
If you don't have a higher floor,
identify the most important things
and be ready to take them to a safe place,
like the home of a friend or family member.
If you don't, your home could be damaged
by electrical fires,
or you could endanger yourself or your loved ones
with possible electrocution.
During a flood, tap water could be turned off or contaminated.
You could get extremely sick from drinking contaminated water,
so be sure to pack several bottles and keep them with you.
Unlike people, insects love floods.
In fact, bugs breed very quickly in the still water that's left over after flooding.
Wouldn't it be terrible to survive the flood
only to get a dangerous disease from infected mosquitos?
If news sources tell you to evacuate,
leave your home and move to higher ground.
Once the flood comes,
you'll need to avoid low places like basements and ditches.
The danger of drowning is very real,
and the higher up you get, the safer you'll be.
If you're wet or standing in water,
touching electricity can be fatal.
And if you're dry, the equipment itself might be wet, so it's best to stay away.
Before a flood, you can certainly drive to higher ground in your car.
Once a flood comes, however,
that's a very dangerous thing to do.
If water rushes around your car,
forget how much you paid and how nice the leather interiors are,
abandon your car and run to higher ground.
The weight of the water can prevent you from opening the doors.
Don't risk getting trapped inside.
If you can find a stick,
it's a good idea to check the firmness of the ground you're about to walk on.
Try to avoid walking through water if possible,
because moving water can sweep you away,
or downed power lines could electrocute you.
So, the rains have stopped and the flood waters have stopped rising.
Are you finally safe?
Unfortunately, the answer is no.
After a flood, there will be water everywhere
that's contaminated with anything from oil and raw sewage to diseases.
Or, the water could be electrically charged.
Avoid the water.
Beware of water-damaged roads and bridges,
as they could collapse under a car's weight.
When you return home,
be sure to disinfect anything that was in contact with flood waters.
Otherwise, you or your loved ones could get really sick.
Floods are dangerous both during and after they happen,
so it's best to be ready,
especially if you live near a large body of water.
You never know when a rainstorm can turn into a flood.
However, if you follow the tips in this video,
you have a good chance of surviving a flood,
According to Science.