Being aware of the do’s and don’ts of surviving a flash flood is an important part of your survival skill sets. The reason for this is obvious: they occur almost every year.
Flash flood does not really differ from flooding. Both of them are caused by an overflow of water & affect tens of millions of people living along coastal regions & low areas every year. However, there’s a simple distinction that makes flashflood much more threatening.
Flooding is the overflow of water into areas it’s not supposed to go & it lasts for longer periods, probably days or weeks.
Flash Flood, meanwhile, is the result of heavy rainfall within a short while, typically less than six hours. This flood type is identified with the raging torrents that follow heavy rains, ripping through urban streets, mountain canyons, or riverbeds, sweeping aside everything that it comes across. Flash floods also occur even if it hasn’t rained.
Highlighting the Do’s & Don’ts of Surviving a Flash Flood
Do’s of Surviving a Flash Flood in an Urban Setting
- Remain informed of past, recent & future weather patterns to see if you can figure out a flash flood occurrence.
- Respond immediately to alerts for flash flood. Before this, you must have created some escape routes to take when SHTF.
- Move as soon as you can to higher ground.
- When the flooding subsides, walk about with care, and there’s a high chance of multiple hazards left behind.
- Remain at your safe location until officials decide that it is safe to leave.
Don’ts of Surviving a Flash Flood
- Avoid roadways that are marked “closed.” Obey road signs. They are set up for your sake.
- Do not attempt to drive through floods when you can’t see the road. Dangers may be hidden in the water & you wouldn’t know until it’s too late. Plus, it will take only a swoop for a flash flood to sweep off a vehicle.
- Avoid crossing bridges. Streams & rivers can be combined to form raging blocks of water filled with debris. Such a deadly combo can destroy a bridge in the blink of an eye.
- Avoid walking or swimming in floodwaters. There’s always the risk of hidden dangers in it, for example, sharp objects, wildlife, drop-offs, chemicals & submerged power lines.
- Avoid taking municipal water until it is cleared for drinking.
What Should I Do In The Case of Flash Flooding in the Wild?
There’s no telling when a flash flood will happen, so know that it may meet while you’re in the great outdoors. Should this happen, there’s no need to panic. Here are some things to do:
Observe the signs given by nature. Things to look out for include watermarks above a river or an excess of dead debris like mud, logs, roots & vegetation) covering an area. These should hint you that such an area is commonly flooded.
Pay attention when you see water levels of a river dropping for no cause. This may be the sign of a mudslide upstream or debris jam, which will cause water to be held up & then suddenly released.
If the water levels of a stream or river rise significantly in a short period, evacuate quickly to higher ground.
Observe your surroundings. A sudden noise in the river may indicate that a large body of water is heading downstream. You must immediately move to higher ground.
Concluding the Do’s And Don’ts of Surviving a Flash Flood
Are there other do’s and don’ts of surviving a flash flood that we’ve missed? Let’s hear from you. That’s by the way. Have you ever dealt with a flash flood? How did you manage the raging monster?