How To Protect Your House When A Flood Comes
Thursday, August 4th, 2011Always protect your house from water from floods and rain. If severe rains or storms are expected to reach your area, cover your doors and windows with wood, sheets of metal, or sandbags, particularly if you reside in an area that is prone to flooding. A silicone sealant is a good water proofing material that will keep your house free from water logs.
Though these measures do not help over an elongated period, they may be beneficial in the short-term to protect from a flood and keep your home dry, it is important that the real estate builder has a good water drainage system.
switching off your electricity, water and gas lines to minimise short circuits, leakages and fire. 
These utilities have to be shut down at the mains, not just for appliances. Remember to remove the plugs of all electrical appliances and place them at a height above the expected flood level, possibly the second floor of your home. The level of water entering the house can escalate to a few feet yet storing things at height in the home can prevent them from getting damaged. There are lots of homes in Austin, TX that are flood free.
It is important to be mindful of furniture and appliances. 
Make sure that these appliances or furniture are moved upstairs, since you cannot afford to buy them again without a large insurance claim.
For the simple houses , as in case of a bungalow, raise items by arranging them on blocks or bricks. Your curtains and carpets should be removed immediately , you should even remove the internal doors in your home.
If you want to give protection from water to any of your possessions, all these should be stored in high places .
Put all the important things in the second floor such as pictures and papers . To ensure total safety, you can put them up in waterproof containers like the ones used for storing food. Otherwise , to make sure the important papers are safe against water, place them in sealed plastic bags.
To be able to know the latest news and informations regarding the storm stay tuned in your radio. Extend your full cooperation to emergency services and local authorities. In case,they want you to vacate, just follow their instructions and your evacuation as quick as possible, since you are endangering your life as well as those of the helpers until you are safe.
As electricity if often unavailable in such cases plan to completed all preparatory work during day. Also doing things in the night can be risky . For emergency purposes, ensure that you load your torches with fresh batteries and also have a spare on hand. Never go out in your house . Floodwater can kill, especially when it is raging, so do not attempt to go out . Remember that even six inches of speedy currents can cause you to fall and even two feet of water can lift a car!.
Cars and house pets should be removed to a place where they will be out of danger. Once you heard of flood warning, Go to the second level in your house . During uncontrollable floods, it is not advised to swim as there would be items drifting along which could hit you. If you risk this you may be knocked over by the floating objects.
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