THE NEW RIVER community of St. Elizabeth has recently been inundated by heavy rainfall which has forced some members to leave their waterlogged homes and head for higher ground. This has prompted the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) to reiterate the warnings for consumers to be proactive in securing their lives and property before the disaster of rising waters hits them.
Here are some preparation tips:
Check land history: Talk with the elderly in your community and find out what is the history of your area.
Contact the National Environmental Protection Agency: Find out if you are in a flood prone area and design a plan for evacuation.
Update your family: Post emergency phone numbers on the refrigerator door and tell family members when to call for help.
Learn the safest route from your home or business to higher ground: Arrange for adequate housing in the event you need to evacuate your home.
Establish meeting points and record cellphone numbers in case family members are separated by rising flood waters.
Decide as a family how and when to turn off gas cylinders, electricity and water supply.
Talk with neighbours and share evacuation plan: A neighbour may be able to provide details about your property you may not have considered.
Remember, rising waters are dangerous and can always exceed its previous levels.: (Until recently, New Orleans had not experienced flooding of such devastation in 100 years.)
Make it a habit to be flood smart: Store valuables at higher elevations (second storey, if possible).
Move out chemicals at any threat of flooding.
Ensure that you seal sewers during the dry season to prevent flood waters from backing up in sewer drains during the rainy season.
Move vehicles to higher ground. Keep emergency supplies on hand:
Keep emergency items such as a battery-operated or wind-up radio, cooking pot, flashlights, fresh batteries, non-perishable food and drinking water, essential medicines and a first-aid kit. Keep street drains, the drains leading off your property free of leaves and other debris. For those in the rural areas who use run-off gutters from the roofs of their home to catch rainfall, ensure that the troughs are clean of fallen leaves and overhangs.
If you evacuate by car: If your car stalls in a flooded area, abandon it as soon as possible and walk to safety in the direction you came from.
Follow recommended evacuation routes, as shortcuts may be blocked.
Do not drive where water is over the road or past barricaded road signs.
After a flood, before re-entering your home: Check for structural damage that could cause the building to collapse. Be cautious of damaged gas cylinders, electrical shorts and live wires. Who can forget the numerous collapsed buildings after hurricane Ivan?
When re-entering a building: Use flashlights, rather than candles. Wear rubber sole shoes to prevent getting shocked by loose wires or cut by broken glass.
Have a professional check: Electrical panel, outlets and appliances.
Document your losses. Photograph damage and record repair costs. Contact your insurance agent for flood loss claims. Seek financial assistance.
Listen to the radio for updates on how to access disaster assistance and follow the registration procedures. Collect documentation, meet the deadlines and go in person to process your claim. Do not listen to hearsay. Contact the relevant authorities regarding your situation and follow their instructions.
The CAC hopes that with preparation there will be fewer traumas and less stress associated with dealing with any disaster. The reality is that most of the structural damage caused during the hurricane season is as a result of flood waters. We therefore reiterate that families take heed to protect life and property.
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