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Flood Safety Awareness
Floods are among the costliest natural disasters in terms of property damage - costing billions of dollars annually in the U.S. and Canada; floods are also a very real threat to human life. In the U.S., on average, floods kill more people each year than lightning, tornadoes and hurricanes. Unfortunately, many people overlook the danger of floods. Flood Safety Awareness Week (March 17 to 21) was created to build public awareness. Here are some safety tips to review with your workers to help them protect themselves and their families against flood dangers.
The Different Kinds of Floods
Flooding is the most common natural disaster and can occur at any time of the year. Floods come in a variety of types. To assess the risks and take adequate preparations, it's important for workers to be familiar with the different types of floods and the particular dangers each one poses.
- River floods, when a river or stream rises above its banks, are the most common type of flood. They most often occur during the spring thaw, when the winter snows melt and combine with spring rain.
- Coastal floods occur along the shoreline of oceans, created by pounding waves, storm surges or tsunamis.
- Urban floods occur in developed areas, where city pavement prevents rainwater from being absorbed into the ground. Instead, the rainwater fills parking lots and roadways, and poses a threat to businesses.
- Flash floods are a rapid rise of water, usually occurring shortly after heavy rainfall, violent storms, slow-moving storms or earthquakes. Flash floods also occur when a dam or levee fails or when ice or debris shift, causing the sudden release of water.
Flood Dangers
Never underestimate the power of floods. Floodwaters are treacherous. Even a mere six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down, and the possibility of drowning is very real if you attempt to cross the water on foot or if you are caught in rising water while operating heavy equipment or an automobile.
Many serious hazards are related to floods, including:
- Downed power lines causing electrocution;
- Unstable building structures;
- Landslides; and
- Chemical and biological hazards in areas touched by floodwaters.
Floods can:
- Tear out trees;
- Destroy buildings and bridges;
- Damage roads;
- Sweep a person down a stream; and
- Sweep a truck off a bridge.
Floods can also erode a road bed, creating unsafe driving conditions; they can also fill underpasses with water.
Driving dangers are among the serious flood hazards. More than half of the fatalities caused by floods involve vehicles. Flashfloods come up quickly and can demolish a car. Occupants of a vehicle might regard standing water on a roadway as shallow, still and safe to cross, only to find themselves trapped when they try to drive through.
Flood Safety Tips
Many injuries and deaths caused by floods can be eliminated each year if you remember these suggestions.
- If you live in a flood-prone area, be prepared. Identify at least two escape routes. Keep emergency supplies packed.
- Floods usually happen during or after a period of heavy rain or sudden snowmelt. Listen to your radio for flood forecasts. If you hear a flashflood warning on the radio or hear the roar of approaching waters, act immediately. Head for the nearest high ground.
- Supervise children closely. Do not allow them near high water, storm drains and other water hazards.
- Avoid areas subject to flash flooding such as gullies and creek beds, particularly during wet weather or thunderstorms.
- Keep away from hillsides and areas where mud flows. Heavy rains associated with floods may cause landslides, burying buildings and people.
- Be especially careful at night, when it is harder to recognize flood dangers.
- If outside, keep away from all electrical lines, generators and exposed power sources. These can short out and electrocute you.
- Do not walk through flooded areas. Even a few inches of rushing water can knock you off your feet.
- Be extremely careful whenever you see water over a road. Even shallow water can conceal a washout of a road or bridge, as well as debris being moved by the flood.
- If you are inside a business and you have time, shut down electrical equipment and get to a solid second floor as quickly as possible. Then look for an exit away from the rising waters. The building may receive structural damage and collapse while you are awaiting rescue.
- If you are trapped on a second floor, open as many windows as possible to release any gas that may build up from sources on the flooded first floor. Noxious gases caused by flood waters mixing with industrial chemicals can be lethal over time.
- Do not drive through a flooded area. If you come upon a flooded road, turn around and go another way. Do not believe that your heavy vehicle will keep you safe. Your vehicle, just like a ship, will float because of buoyancy. Six inches of water can cause a car to go out of control. In just 18 to 24 inches of moving water, most cars (even trucks and SUVs) can be swept away, and you will have no way of steering or stopping.
- If your vehicle stalls in floodwater, get out and head for high ground quickly and carefully. Don't keep trying to start the vehicle. Many deaths have been caused by people trying to move a stalled vehicle. Your vehicle is one of the most dangerous places to be during a flood.
Conclusion
No area in North America is completely free from the threat of floods. Even desert areas are periodically hit by flash floods. Pay attention to conditions and precautions and keep your loved ones safe.
SAFETY TIP OF THE WEEK
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Preparing for a Flood
Do you know the flood risk of where you work or live? If you live on a flood plain, you're probably aware of the risks. A flood plain is an area near a body of water, such as a river, that floods periodically. It may not flood every year, but it will flood some years.
If you don't work or live in a flood plain, you might still face the risk of a flood. Studies show that more than a quarter of flood damage occurs outside the identified flood plains. These additional flood-prone areas include land along creeks, streams, canals, lakes or ocean bays and other kinds of waterways. Floods can also be caused by excessive rainfall, rapid snowmelt, hurricanes, landslides, broken dams or levees and other causes.
Here are 5 steps you can take to prepare for a flood:
1. Find out if the place where you work or live is below the flood stage water level. Learn about floods that occurred in the past.
2. Become familiar with flood warning signs and the flood alert signals for your workplace and community (see below).
3. Take part in evacuation drills with co-workers and family.
4. Keep a kit of emergency water, food and supplies - the same ones you would have on hand for any other disaster, such as an earthquake. A first aid kit is important for this or any emergency.
5. Stockpile building materials and tools for emergency flood-proofing. You'll need plywood, plastic sheets, hammer, nails, saw, shovels, pry-bar and sandbags.
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FLOOD WARNING GLOSSARY
FLOOD WATCH: Prepare to evacuate
FLOOD WARNING: Evacuate if told
FLASH FLOOD WARNING: Get to high ground at once
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