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