What Are the Dangers of Flash Floods?

At any moment, heavy rainfall can fill your city’s storm drains and cause the streets to flood. In this situation, people not only have to worry about staying dry and warm, they have the duty of keeping themselves and their family safe as well. With safety being one of the biggest concerns during a flash flood, if people want to stay safe, they need to be aware of the many potential dangers and how their lives can be impacted.

Here are some of the flash flood dangers your local septic and dewatering service in Bethel, OH thinks you should know about:

  • Drowning: During a flash flood, the water level quickly rises as it fills the streets and takes over the area. If you aren’t prepared, it can easily catch you off guard and sweep you away in just a few seconds. Should this happen, those in the water could drown. Whether you know how to swim or not, between the amount of water and the speed at which it is moving, there is no guarantee of survival.
  • Infections: Think about where the water comes from during a flash flood. Heavy rain can cause the flood to happen, but when it overwhelms streams, rivers and drains, the water is guaranteed to be dirty. This can pose a threat to your health because you and many others can easily be infected by the bacteria in this water. It would be best to avoid touching the water, as this is the one sure way to avoid an infection.
  • Visual obstructions: You never know what is hiding beneath the water when a flood has happened. You may think you are in the clear, but since the water has created obstructions, there is no way of knowing for sure what is in front of you. For example, large pieces of debris or manholes won’t be visible, and if you were to step in the wrong spot, you could sustain an injury or worse.
  • Electrocution: One danger that people often don’t know to look for during a flash flood is a downed power line. The force and speed of the water can often knock these lines down, creating a safety hazard for anyone who gets too close. These power lines may be down and seem harmless, but they could still be live and active. Coming into contact with one could lead to serious injury or death, so people have to be careful if they come across one or more downed power lines.

When a flash flood happens, people aren’t always prepared. Things happen so quickly, and you don’t always have time to plan a course of action, so there may be injuries, damaged property and more. Even if you weren’t expecting a flood, being aware of the many dangers can increase your chances of survival and ensure you and your loved ones live to see another day.

Want to know if there is anything else you can do to ensure you are safe during a flash flood? Your local septic and dewatering service in Bethel, OH, Gullett Sanitation Services Inc., can be of assistance. Contact us today to learn more!

Leave a Reply