NDMA Prepares List of Dos and Dont's during Floods. Here is What You should Know

Guwahati:

With the nation gearing up for the monsoon season and ensuing floods, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has formulated a new set of guidelines to help Indians deal with the impending floods.

What People should do before Floods:

The NDMA has advised people to ignore rumours, stay calm and not panic. People have been urged to keep mobile phones charged for emergency communication and use SMS for communication. At the same time, they should also listen to radio, watch television and read newspapers for timely weather updates. They should also keep cattle and other animals untied to ensure their safety.

The disaster management authority has also asked people to prepare an emergency kit with essential items for safety and survival, and keep a first aid kit with extra medication ready for snake bites and diarrhea. Documents and others valuables, the NDMA says, must be kept in water-proof bags.

What People should do During Floods:

Citizens have been urged not to enter flooded waters and in case they need to, they have been asked to wear suitable footwear. For safety, they have been asked to stay away from sewerage lines, gitters, drains, and culverts. They have also been asked to stay away from electric poles and fallen power lines to avoid electrocution' and eat freshly cooked and dry food that has been kept covered.

To avoid diseases, the NDMA has urged the people to drink boiled or chlorinated water. Additionally, the have been advised to use disinfectants to keep surroundings clean.

What People should do after Floods:

The NDMA has asked people not to let their children play in or near flooded waters and not to use any damaged electrical goods and get them checked. They have further been cautioned to watch out for broken electric poles and wires, sharp objects and debris.

The disaster management authority has also advised people not to eat food that has been in flood waters and use mosquito nets to prevent malaria. Moreover, they should not use toilet or tap water if the water pipes are damaged.

What One must do if He/She Needs to Evacuate:

In case of an evacuation, a person must raise furniture and appliances on beds and tables and put sandbags in the toilet bowl and cover all drain holes to prevent sewage back flow.  Power and gas connections must be turned off and the person must move to a higher ground or safe shelter.  They should also take emergency kits, first aid boxes, and valuables with them. Entering into deep, unknown waters must be avoided and a stick should be used to check water depth.

It is pertinent to mention here that flooding is a major problem in several Indian States. The 2019 affected over thirteen states in late July and early August 2019, due to incessant rains. At least 200 people died and about a million people were displaced. Karnataka and Maharashtra were the most severely affected states. The challenge is expected to be even greater this time around as the nation is already grappling with the treat of the coronavirus that has killed over 3 lakh people across the world.

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