Here are some thoughtful safety tips for travelling residents to keep in mind:
• The best way to avoid being caught inside your car is to avoid water on the road.
• Never drive through a flooded road or bridge. Use an alternative route.
• Stay on high ground.
• Listen to the radio for weather information, to plan your route in advance.
• Don’t walk into moving water unless it is extremely shallow. Just 16 cm of moving water can knock you off your feet.
• If your vehicle is surrounded by shallow water and you are caught in a traffic jam because of deeper conditions ahead, abandon the vehicle and move immediately to higher ground. Do not stay in a car – it might get flooded.
• If you are stranded on an object above the floodwater, such as a tree or a building, stay put and wait for rescue. Do not enter the water and wait for rescue.
• If you’re driving through a flash flood, open your window so that if the car becomes stranded or flooded, you can easily exit. If you have to, break the window.
• If you have a baby or toddler in the vehicle, do not exit without them – take them in your arms while you are exiting; do not leave them unattended, the water may grab you and leave them behind.
• When it rains heavily, turn on your headlights and hazard-lights so that your car is visible at all times.
• Continue to breathe normally until water reaches your shoulders, then take a deep breath and hold your nose. Swim to the nearest place of safety.
• If you are swept into moving floodwater outside of your car, point your feet downstream. Always go over obstacles, never try to go under.
• Always make sure you are safe before helping anybody else, otherwise you may harm both them and yourself.
• If water comes into your vehicle, abandon it immediately as you might get caught in it – also if floodwater moves your vehicle.
• Warn other motorists of danger ahead if you have successfully driven through floodwater by flashing your vehicle’s high beam.
• Contact your insurance broker as soon as possible if your vehicle is flooded or swept away.
• Contact the South African Police Service and Ambulance Services if they are not present at the flood scene. Alternatively, contact Netcare 911.
