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In this module, we will analyze the most frequent flood possibilities in which a child, a young person and a person with disabilities can be found.

Both preventive measures and advice on how to react in the event of a flood may be slightly different depending on where we are.

On a preventive level, we should not throw waste into rivers, streams and canals where we live and anywhere, and we should inform competent public utility service if the waste is already in the river or other waters.

In schools, all preventive measures are standardized, and it is the students' responsibility to know and respect them.

If we are in the woods, we must pay maximum attention to the weather and to stay informed regarding weather conditions.

Flooding is the presence of large amounts of uncontrolled water that can   endanger life and health of people and which may cause material damage.

 Conditions that cause floods include heavy or steady rain for several hours or   days that saturates the ground.

  When danger of flooding is present, you should listen radio, television or   Internet   for possible flood warnings and reports of flooding in progress.

  Anyway, you should stay away from electrical cables, unplug all electrical   appliances and be prepared for evacuation.

•        Close your home well before leaving;
•        Prepare a bag with personal documents and essential things (a bottle of drinking water, warm clothes, boots, flashlight, whistle, raincoat, transistor radio and extra batteries, stick, rope, etc.);
•        Follow the advice of the competent state and local institutions;
•        Do not walk through moving water and avoid the areas that are known to have landslides and rockfalls;
•        If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving, and do not cross streams and brooks;
•        Be cooperative, collaborate with rescue teams and do not obstruct their work;
•        Follow the indicated evacuation routes and do not use other shorter routes;
•     Request information from the competent local institutions, from radio or the Internet, where there is organized accommodation and food.

Movement on ice on the surface of water - rivers or lakes

In a case you are moving on ice, you should always have the necessary protective equipment in such situations, as well as a mobile phone and a whistle around your neck.

If the ice breaks, you should follow next instructions:

•       Don't move;
•       Call for help immediately or blow the whistle;
•       Try to slowly return to where you came from;
•       Try to rise above the ice, roll on it or crawl, until you reach thicker ice;
•       If you are not able to return to safe ice, remember that it is necessary to reduce body heat loss.

•       Bring items from the yard inside the house or fasten them where they are located;
•       Join with neighbors to put sandbags or other protection in place;
•       Lock all doors;
•       Move to the upper floors of the house main appliances and other important items;
•       Stay away from electrical cables and unplug all electrical appliances;
•       Listen to the radio, television and the Internet for further information;
•       Be informed on water supply and whether it is safe to drink the water.

No matter of all this steps, if there is a risk, you should move immediately to the upper floors of the house.

•       Do not visit flooded areas, stay away from the buildings that are surrounded by floodwaters and be careful when entering any building;
•       Be cautious in the areas where floodwaters have receded;
•       Return to your home only when competent authorities indicate it is safe;
•       Secure your home (turn off electricity at the main switc, use battery light and do not use electrical appliances before checking);
•       Clean and disinfect everything that got wet;
•       Immersed rooms should be cleaned with warm soapy water;
•       Discard or wash with hot water flooded clothing and bedding;
•       Do not use fresh water if it has come in contact with flood water;
•       Report broken power lines or water pipes to the authorities;
•       If you see dead animals, notify the competent service.

•       Natural disasters like floods can happen at any time, and when they happen at school, everyone should be prepared to handle them safely and effectively.
•       Sometimes schools are safe and they are used as community gathering grounds
•       No one should enter flood water or put their life at risk!

If flood happens while you are at school, listen for updates from the local authorities, let school administrators/teachers

tell you where to go and what to do or not to do.

Mainly, you should follow these directions:

•        Listen the instructions from your teacher;
•        Follow appropriate evacuation signs;
•        Stay with your classmates;
•        Stay safe, always listen to the advice of teachers and evacuate when told to do so. When you are evacuated you will be taken to an evacuation centre run by your local council;
•        Move important items to higher places;
•        Move/retreat to higher ground and avoid standing, flowing, or rising water
•        Do not touch electrical devices when there is water around (avoid electricity sources);
•        Don’t touch flood water – it may be polluted, or there may be downed power lines closely;
•        Contact family when you get a chance;
•        During a water advisory, use only bottled, boiled, or treated water for drinking;
•        Help your teacher to evacuate students who have special needs, because they need extra help/assistance.

Sometimes it is too dangerous to leave the school building, so you and your classmates will be forced to stay into the school and follow next instructions:

•       Stay with your classmates;
•       Do not panic, stay calm!;
•       Stay where you are and wait for further instructions;
•       Move to higher ground or a higher floor. Don't go into a basement!;
•       Do not climb into a closed attic. You may become trapped by rising floodwater;
•       Only get on the roof if necessary and if your teacher tell you to do so;
•       During a flood you must move important items to a safe place or higher floor;
•       Do not go out and walk through the road where the water is moving;
•       Use only bottled water for drinking;
•       Wash your hands after coming into contact with floodwater.

After flood has ended, the risks still remain, so students should follow next instructions:

•       Listen for news reports to learn whether the community’s water supply is safe to drink;
•       Avoid floodwaters; water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, or raw sewage. Water may also be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines;
•       Avoid moving water;
•       Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded. Roads may have weakened and could collapse under the weight of a car;
•       Stay away from downed power lines and report them to the power company.
•       Stay out of any building if it is surrounded by floodwaters;
•       Use extreme caution when entering buildings; there may be hidden damage, particularly in foundations;
•       If it’s dark, use a flashlight - not matches, a candle or a lighter;
•       If your skin comes into contact with contaminated flood water, wash with soap and uncontaminated water as soon as possible;
•       Clean and disinfect everything that got wet. Mud left from floodwater can contain sewage and chemicals.

Flash floods occur suddenly and develop quickly due to rapidly rising water and sometimes without visible signs.

Еven ordinary rains, can occur floods if the characteristics of the area allow it to be flooded quickly. 

If you are in woods and flooding is likely, do not panic and tried to find or get in touch with rescue teams, and then strictly follow the instructions of the rescuers.

•       Do not walk through moving water and avoid the areas that are known to have landslides and rockfalls;
•       If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving, and do not cross streams and brooks;
•       Be cooperative, collaborate with rescue teams and do not obstruct their work;
•       If there are electrical cables, stay away from them;
•       Follow the advice of the competent state and local institutions;
•       Follow the indicated evacuation routes and do not use other shorter routes;
•       If you are instructed to go to a specific location, go there and nowhere else;
•       Request information from the competent local institutions, from radio or the Internet, where there is organized accommodation and food;
•       If there is conditions for that, stay informed via radio and the Internet regarding situation and weather conditions.

•       Climb on a higher place or on a tree that is close to you;
•       Do not walk through moving water and avoid the areas that are known to have landslides and rockfalls;
•       Avoid the floodwater and be informed on water supply and whether it is safe to drink the water;
•       If there are conditions for that, stay informed via radio and the Internet regarding weather condition.

•       Return to your home only when you have relevant information that indicate it is safe;
•       Avoid moving water;
•       Be cautious in the areas where floodwaters have receded - the roads may be damaged and dangerous;
•       Do not visit flooded areas.

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