What to do in case of flood, high temperature and limited water resources

What to do in case of flooding, high temperature and limited water resources

What to do in case of flood

Steps to Take

Move immediately to higher ground or stay on high ground.

Evacuate if directed.

Avoid walking or driving through flood waters. Turn Around, Don't Drown! Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down and 2 feet of water can sweep your vehicle away.

What to do in case of high temperature

Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol.

Eat small meals and eat more often.

Avoid extreme temperature changes.

Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing. Avoid dark colors because they absorb the sun’s rays.

Slow down, stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day.

Postpone outdoor games and activities.

Use a buddy system when working in excessive heat.

Take frequent breaks if you must work outdoors.

Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, who spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the heat.

Check on your animals frequently to ensure that they are not suffering from the heat

What to do in case of limited water resources

The following is a brief listing of ways you can conserve water by modifying your everyday living habits.

Where possible and economically justifiable, install water-saving plumbing fixtures in the home. Consult the Household Water Conservation fact sheet, available from the cooperative extension office in your county, to learn more about water-saving textures and appliances.

Flush the toilet less often. In most cases, several uses can be made of the toilet for liquid wastes before flushing is required.

Do not use the toilet for disposing of trash, waste paper, and the like.

Make sure that your toilet does not leak. Place a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. If the colored water appears in the toilet bowl without flushing, your toilet is leaking—have it fixed immediately.

Fix leaking faucets. A 1/16-inch opening at 40 pounds of pressure will leak 970 gallons in 24 hours.

Do not let faucets run for washing or rinsing. Always fill a container with water for this purpose or use the sink by stopping the drain.

Do not water lawns or wash cars when water is in short supply. Also, try to water lawns and landscapes during evening or early morning to reduce evaporation from the sun.

Brush your teeth before shaving in the morning so the cold water in the supply line is used instead of running to waste while you wait for hot water with which to shave.

After brushing your teeth, use a glass of water to rinse your mouth rather than running water over the toothbrush and then using the toothbrush to rinse your mouth.

Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator to avoid letting water run to obtain a cold drink.

Do not prewash dishes for automatic dishwashers unless necessary.

Do not use the garbage disposal. Compost vegetable peelings on your garden or put them in the garbage can.

Take shorter showers. Remember, the longer you are in the shower, the more water you use.

Collect water from roof gutters to use for lawn and plant watering.

If your shower is equipped with a mixing faucet that can be set with a dial to the desired temperature, turn the shower off while soaping up. When you have finished soaping up, turn the shower back on to rinse off. If your shower is not equipped with a temperature dial, you may end up using more water as you adjust the water temperature again; consequently, this practice is not recommended for showers without automatic temperature adjustment or a shut-off valve in the shower head.

When shaving, use water in the washbowl to clean your razor between strokes, or use an electric razor.

Always use a brush, wash cloth, or your hand to dislodge particles of dirt when washing anything rather than relying on the force of the water to do the job.

Allow small children to bathe in the tub at the same time.

Use disposable diapers to avoid a toilet flush when rinsing a dirty diaper and to cut down on the amount of soiled laundry to be washed.

Reuse kitchen drain water by collecting it in a container and using it to water plants, lawns, and gardens or to recharge the toilet reservoir for toilet flushing (be sure it contains no large solids such as vegetable peelings).a