If the recent floods in Australia have done anything positive, it has warned the rest of the world just how damaging and unpredictable flood waters can be. With an area the size of Germany now deluged in flood waters, one message that has come from the disaster has been the advantages of being prepared.
Coping with flooding is all too often thought of as a concern for governments and local authorities, but as with the Australian floods, the speed in which flood waters arrive mean that the authorities just don't have enough time to prevent and assist those suffering.
Being prepared is therefore, something that local communities should take on themselves, as when flood waters rise, every minute is precious if you are to prevent the damage and destruction done to homes and businesses that can affect people for years to come.
The problem with flood defences is that most of them take time to prepare, and as flooding gives little warning, it means much of the flood defence preparations should be planned in advance.
Flood defences like sandbags should be stored locally, as should a good supply of sand. This is because they have to be filled and installed within the first warnings of rising water. Full sandbags are too bulky to transport so a local community needs a good store of them.
Whether it's in public property, such as in council storage, or in the cellar of a pub, these sandbags need to be somewhere where they can be deployed quickly - with a source of sand nearby to fill them.
Alternatives to sandbags can be used and are far more practical as many, like Instant Sandbags, do not require sand to fill them, relying instead on water. This has great advantages for local communities who have no need to worry about finding, or storing the sand to fill them. Instead the flat Instant Sandbags can be stored locally until needed.
Other defences such as door guards, should be installed well-in advance. These products can be fitted and the guard removed until necessary, but with the brackets in place it takes just minutes for the guards to be slid down. Local communities should get together and work out which are the most vulnerable buildings. That way, places like schools and surgery's can be kept be protected when flood waters rise.
Richard N Williams is a technical author and professional writer who is interested in flooding, flood defences and flood management. Please visit us if you would like more information about flood defences or require more information on Instant Sandbags
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