Precautions to follow during a storm

With the recent storms, many homes were flooded and motorists had to take caution.

It’s important to follow certain precautions to stay safe during extreme flooding conditions:

Your home:

• Keep emergency numbers and important information handy.
• Switch off all household electrical devices.
• Also keep emergency supplies such as water, canned food, a can opener, battery-operated radio, flashlight and protective clothing ready.
• Keep a first aid kit.
• Lock all doors and windows.

Should you be outdoors or in your vehicle, do the following:

• Climb to higher ground and stay there.
• Avoid walking through floodwaters – even 15 centimeters deep can sweep you off your feet.
• If floodwaters rise around your car but the water is not moving, abandon the car and move to higher ground.
• Never drive through a flooded road as the road may be washed away.
• If you get swept away in the flood waters, try to grab onto anything you can to pull yourself to safety.
• Getting swept away while inside your vehicle can be extremely dangerous. If you are stuck inside your vehicle, roll down the windows and open the doors to allow water into your vehicle. Doing this will equal the pressure on both sides of the door, allowing you to escape your vehicle.