How to Self-Rescue During Floods? Flood disasters frequently occur during summer flood seasons and in low-lying areas. Floods threaten lives and property; knowing self-rescue techniques can save lives in critical moments. So, how do you self-rescue and escape during floods? Let's review the following emergency measures.
I. Flood Self-Rescue Methods:
1. If evacuation is impossible, remain calm and move to higher ground (e.g., sturdy rooftops or trees) to await rescue. Use flood-resistant materials like sandbags or rocks to seal door gaps and reduce water ingress, or seek refuge on rooftops.If the house is not sturdy enough, build a makeshift wooden (or bamboo) raft for escape, or climb a large tree for refuge. Before leaving the house, take some food and clothing with you.Ideally, place sandbags outside the doorframe. Sandbags can be made from burlap sacks, straw bags, cloth bags, or plastic bags filled with sand, soil, or gravel. If further flooding is anticipated, also stack sandbags outside the lower window sills. 3. If floodwaters continue to rise, stockpile food, drinking water, warm clothing, and boiling equipment on upper floors.
4. In severe flooding with rising water levels, construct a makeshift raft for escape. Any buoyant materials—bed slats, boxes, cabinets, door panels—can be used. If ropes are unavailable, tear bed sheets or blankets into strips for use.
5. Before boarding the raft, test its buoyancy. Gather essential supplies: food, signaling devices (whistles, flashlights, flags, bright bedsheets), and paddles. Consume food and warm beverages before floating away to maintain strength.
6. Before leaving home, turn off gas valves and main power switches. If time permits, wrap valuables in blankets and store them in upper cabinets. Securely lock doors when exiting to prevent belongings from being swept away.
7. If swept away or submerged, remain calm and grasp floating debris like planks, boxes, or wardrobes. If far from shore with no nearby people or vessels, avoid swimming recklessly to prevent exhaustion.
II. Four Urban Flood Survival Methods:
When facing urban flooding, first quickly ascend to a sturdy high-rise building for safety, then contact rescue services. Simultaneously, gather floating objects—wooden basins or barrels can serve as effective escape tools. Analysis shows flood-related disappearances stem partly from sudden, overwhelming water flow.On the other hand, some individuals venture into dangerous waters due to unfamiliarity with water conditions. Therefore, it is crucial to remember: if you are unfamiliar with the water conditions, you must wait for rescue in a safe area. It is also advisable to keep some emergency supplies at home for unexpected situations.
1. Refuge locations should generally be chosen based on proximity to home, higher ground, convenient transportation, and good sanitary conditions.In urban areas, this often means flat rooftops of high-rise buildings, elevated school or hospital grounds, or sturdy structures like hospitals. 2. Store warm clothing and bedding in elevated locations. Secure valuable items that are difficult to carry by waterproofing and burying them underground or placing them high up. Money, jewelry, and similar valuables can be sewn into clothing.
3. Construct wooden rafts and gather floating materials like wooden basins and planks to build emergency lifesaving equipment. Clean drinking water may be scarce during floods, so store it beforehand using containers like wooden basins or buckets.Preserve all functional communication devices to maintain contact with the outside world.
III. During Sudden Flash Floods:
1. Remain calm, quickly assess your surroundings, and evacuate to higher ground or mountains as soon as possible. If immediate escape is impossible, seek relatively safe shelter.
2. Do not run along the flood channel; instead, move swiftly to either side.
3.Never attempt to cross rivers on foot.
4. If trapped by a flash flood in the mountains, immediately contact local government flood control authorities to request rescue.
IV. How to Wait for Rescue in Place During Flooding?
Flood disasters occur when accumulated energy reaches a critical threshold. Therefore, before floodwaters arrive, residents in affected areas should use this limited time to prepare as thoroughly as possible.
Those with resources may construct or reinforce embankments; others should seek elevated shelters such as structurally sound rooftops, tree platforms, or temporary elevated platforms.Cook food sufficient for several days and slaughter livestock for ready-to-eat meals; store clothing, bedding, and other cold-weather items in elevated locations; construct rafts and gather floating materials like wooden basins and planks to create emergency lifesaving equipment; waterproof and bury valuable items that are difficult to carry, or place them in high areas; sew cash, jewelry, and similar items into clothing;Prepare medical supplies and fire-starting materials; preserve all functional communication devices. V. How to Evacuate When Flooding Approaches? Residents in areas submerged between 0.7m and 2m deep, or where flood currents are too strong to survive, should promptly take shelter measures.Since evacuation involves large-scale, organized movements, note the following:
First, ensure evacuation routes are widely known. Every evacuee must understand which areas flood first and which later to choose optimal paths, avoiding the passive situation of "arriving just as the flood arrives."
Second, recognize road signs. In flood-prone areas, governments construct evacuation routes. Generally, these should be one-way to minimize traffic chaos and congestion. Directional signs are installed along these routes. If evacuees fail to properly identify these signs and blindly take the wrong path, turning back may cause collisions and crowding with other groups, leading to unnecessary chaos.
Third, maintain composure. Mastering "disaster psychology" is itself a discipline. Experts note that in a flood detention area housing 1.5 million people, a single evacuation drill resulted in a bridge collapse due to overcrowding and chaos, causing casualties.During floods, evacuees are already in a state of panic due to personal suffering and immense family losses. External disturbances—such as rumors, sudden shouts within evacuation lines, or the chaotic wailing of police and ambulance sirens—can easily trigger unnecessary panic and chaos.