After Typhoon Yagi, all major rivers in northern Vietnam have seen rising waters, with floods submerging cities like Yen Bai and Thai Nguyen. The floods are directly threatening Hanoi and other cities. Each individual needs to know how to prevent danger and save themselves.
According to Dr. Tran Van Phuc from Xanh Pon Hospital, northern Vietnam is struggling with floods, and every citizen must equip themselves with important knowledge to avoid danger and self-rescue scientifically during floods.
What Should You Prepare in Case of Flooding?
Based on flood information provided by television, radio, newspapers, and local media, combined with your own location and conditions, everyone should calmly outline the best evacuation plan and choose the safest evacuation route to avoid being caught off guard.
Rising waters flooding many homes in Yen Bai – (Photo: TTO).
- Clearly recognize road signs, clarify the evacuation route and destination to avoid going the wrong way out of panic.
- Prepare sufficient ready-to-eat food or food that can be cooked in a few days, along with enough drinking water and daily necessities.
- Have flood prevention equipment ready.
- It’s advisable to stockpile some flood prevention items at home, such as whistles, flashlights, life jackets, and lifebuoys. Always keep a hammer and a hardware toolkit ready in your vehicle so that if you are submerged in water, you can use the hammer to break the edges or corners of windows that may shatter to escape.
- Prepare clean drinking water and food, especially energy-rich foods like candies and cakes.
- Prepare cold-weather gear such as adequate clothing and blankets kept in high places. Items like money, gold, and diamonds should be sewn into clothing. Valuable items that are not waterproof and hard to carry can be buried in the ground or placed in high areas.
What to Do When Floods Occur
Before the flood: Severe flooding typically occurs in rivers, coastal areas, and low-lying regions during continuous or heavy rainfall.
Before floods arrive, there are often several warning signs, such as the water in rivers or streams becoming muddy, increasing flow speed, rising water levels, the sound of rushing water resembling a distant train approaching, and unusual reactions from plants and animals. You should prepare communication devices, flashlights, whistles, mirrors, lighters, colorful clothing, and other items that can be used as distress signals.
When the flood hits: First, ensure you are well-prepared and move to higher ground to await rescue; floating on a raft or swimming should only be a last resort.
If you have enough time, follow the predetermined route to organized higher ground, or look for a sturdy high-rise building to move into. During the evacuation process, make judgments to avoid being caught in the flood.
While moving, collect objects that can float, such as wooden barrels, plastic cans, or bottles.
If the flood comes too quickly and there’s no time to evacuate, you may climb onto rooftops, trees, or high walls for temporary shelter while waiting for rescue.
If surrounded by floodwaters, and the water continues to rise, you must create a makeshift raft to escape. A raft can be made from doors, wooden beds, wooden cabinets, boxes, plastic cans, bottles, or anything that can float on the water as much as possible. If you can’t find rope to tie the raft, use bed sheets, blankets, mosquito nets, or even clothing as makeshift rope.
Before climbing onto the raft, test if it can float. Gathering food and signaling devices (like whistles, flashlights, flags, bright bed sheets) and paddles is essential. Before leaving your shelter to float, eat some food and drink some hot beverages to boost your strength.
When communication is possible, report the flood situation and your predicament to local authorities and flood control agencies. If you cannot communicate, you can use fireworks, start a fire, create smoke, use whistles, flashlights, mirrors, wave flags or bright clothing to call for help, continuously sending emergency signals to the outside world.
Remember, do your best not to swim alone. If you see high-voltage towers collapsed or low-hanging or broken wires, stay away from danger and do not touch or approach them.
What to Do if You Encounter Flooding in Urban Areas
During floods, continuous heavy rainfall increases the risk of urban flooding, necessitating timely responses and actions.
- Pay attention to early warnings: Continuously receive early warning information about heavy rain, water accumulation, and flooding conditions issued by meteorological agencies.
- Be cautious while traveling: Be aware of flood safety warning signs along the road, try to stay close to buildings, and avoid areas with whirlpools to prevent falling into dangerous zones like deep wells or uncovered pits.
Avoid traveling in low-lying areas like drains or underpasses. Stay away from electrical facilities; if you see high-voltage towers or poles toppled, move quickly. If flooding occurs inside your house, immediately cut off the electricity and gas valve.
- Driving precautions: Try not to take shelter from rain in your car.
When driving through flooded areas, if you are unfamiliar with the road conditions, pay attention to warning signs and avoid wading through water. If you must wade through water, turn on your headlights and hazard lights while keeping a safe distance from vehicles ahead to avoid rising water and engine failure due to water splashing.
When driving in deep water, maintain steady pressure on the gas pedal, cross the water at a low and constant speed, and try not to stop, shift gears, or make sharp turns.
If your vehicle stalls in deep water, do not attempt to restart the engine to avoid water entering. This is because when a car is submerged, water can enter the air filter. When the engine is waterlogged, the spark plugs get wet and cannot ignite.
If the water around the vehicle continues to rise, you should immediately exit. Specifically, when water rises quickly or the vehicle falls into the water, the first thing to do is unbuckle your seatbelt and open the car door, as using side doors to exit is the safest and quickest way after the vehicle falls into water; immediately unlock the central electronic control in case the door locks malfunction.
However, if the central locking system loses power and the door locks or water pressure is too high preventing the doors from opening, the only option is to try to break the car window and escape as soon as possible. The vehicle will sink for a certain period after falling into the water. Don’t be afraid that the vehicle will sink if you open the window.
If you manage to open or break a door, the vehicle will sink within 5-10 seconds, so you must quickly get out of the car to escape.
