recent Flash floods in Texas, new Mexico And North Carolina The extreme threats are highlighting that these fierce edge of water can bring communities in a few minutes.
Number of dead On July 4, the horrific flash in Central Texas has increased to at least 120 after floods, and many people remain unaware after days. At least flash floods killed Five people Three people in North Carolina and in New Mexico.
“A flash flood suddenly comes. If you don’t have any warnings, you are in great trouble,” Gery Dwarkin said, technical advisors to protect aquatics security and water Life resourcesWhich provides training and counseling services.
Experts say that just six inches fast -moving water can kill an adult with his feet and take them away. If you finish in a flash flood water in floods, very little that you can do to survive, dwarkin and other rescue experts said.
“It is very difficult to deal with nature. Survival can be attributed to luck as your actions,” Chris Susie, Chairman International association of water rescue professionalsSaid.
In these conditions, the amount of water, speed and depth makes it incredibly dangerous.
“There is a difference between being caught in a flood which is relatively still water and water that is moving very fast,” Alan Plasto said, a captain, a captain, a captain, Ohio special response team,
And debris presents additional hazards. “This is not just a sinking occurrence, it is also a trauma,” Dwarkin said.
What to do in a flash flood – and how to prepare
If you are trapped in a flash flood, the sui advice that you move upwards with your feet and try to remove the obstacles and shock backwards towards the banks of the river.
Susie said, “The water will move towards the edges at a slow pace and you have to try to find a way out of the water.” “You will not dominate the water, and obstacles can very easily pin you. It is very difficult to swim fast -moving flood waters and focus on them and exit.”
But, priority should be prevented – and to keep plans for natural disasters, experts say.
Plasto said, “People simply don’t know what to do, and therefore they have a reactive response rather than a planned response.”
Plasto recommended receiving the weather radio, as the cell service may be defective and people cannot receive warnings from their phone on their phone. He recommended both plug-in and battery-operated radio with additional batteries.
People also need to understand various levels of warning. Here’s how NWS defines flood warning,
- Flash Flood warning: When a flash flood is issued or released in case of adjacent
- flood warning: Released on adjacent floods
- flood watch: Is released when favorable for floods
- Flood Advisor: When floods are not expected to issue a warning to floods, it is released, but it may cause significant inconvenience and caution is recommended.
“When it jumps to look from the advisor, you need to take action immediately because things are about to happen,” Plasto said.
If a warning is issued, primary advice from experts and federal agencies is to receive as soon as possible on high ground, but high ground cannot be closed.
“If you reach a point where you do not believe that you can run on high ground, then it can be as high as possible, and then dial 911,” Susie said. “Your goal should find a way not to end in water.”
If you are in your home or a building, go to a high floor, but make sure you are there to indicate the rescuers.
“If you are going to the attic, and there is no way to indicate anyone that you are there, it is going to be a dangerous place,” Dwarkin said.
Plasto recommended having an ax or other non-electric cutting device in an attic, if you need to cut your way to the roof.
Plasto stated that “Go-bag” has been prepared with water, food replacement bar or MRE (food prepared) kits, medicines, clothing, water proof flashlight, battery and life jackets. He also recommended being an infrared strobe that could alert the discovery and rescue personnel where you are.
Driver: “Turn around, don’t drown”
If you are in a car, then “the important thing, it never attempts to cross a flooded road,” because you don’t know how deep the water is or what the integrity of the road is under the water, Dwarkin said.
“Turn around, don’t drown,” often the phrase officers repeat the public to remind the public to escape the streets. About one foot faster water can take a small car away and take away the largest SUV, van and trucks, 18-24 inches, NWS warns,
If you are in danger of being a submerged vehicle, Dwarkin asked to open his window, take off your seat belt and take out the children and yourself as soon as possible.
“If your vehicle gets stuck in the moving water, the safest thing would be to get out of your vehicle, and at the point you have the only avenue that goes to the roof of the vehicle and hope to wait for rescue,” he said, but he warned that it could be very difficult.
The bottom line, the plasto said, people should be aware of their surroundings and be prepared before the flood is hit.
He said, “These so-called once-generation incidents are happening more and more times in recent years,” he said. “So one of the things we have to do is how we predict the frequency and base of these events that are on our ability to respond.”
