Tag: floods

Before Flood – What precautions we should take

Before, During & After the Flood

Before

To prepare for a flood it is important to:

  • Remember, if you decide to build your home in a flood plain, you should elevate and reinforce the home.
  • Keep your furnace, water heater, and electrical panel elevated if you are in an area susceptible to flooding.
  • Construct barriers to keep flood waters from entering your home.

During

If a flood is likely in your area, you should:

  • Listen to the radio or television for information.
  • Be aware that flash flooding can occur. If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground. Do not wait for instructions to move.
  • Be aware of streams, drainage channels, and other areas known to flood suddenly. Flash floods can occur in these areas with or without such typical warnings as rain clouds or heavy rain.

If you must prepare to evacuate, you should do the following:

  • Secure your home. If you have time, bring in outdoor furniture. Move essential items to an upper floor.
  • Turn off utilities at the main switches or valves if instructed to do so.
  • Disconnect electrical appliances. Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.

If you have to leave your home, remember these evacuation tips:

  • Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.
  • Do not drive into flooded areas. If flood waters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely. You and the vehicle can be quickly swept away.

Driving in a Flood

The following are important points to remember when driving in flood conditions:

  • Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible stalling.
  • Twelve inches of water is enough to float many vehicles.
  • Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles, including sport utility vehicles (SUV’s) and pick-ups.

After

Recovering from a flood requires extreme care. After a flood, be sure to:

  • Find out if the water supply is safe to drink before consuming water.
  • Avoid flood waters, as they may be contaminated. Also, avoid moving water.
  • Driving is especially hazardous after a flood. Do not drive through flood waters or in areas where the water may have receded. Areas where the water has receded can be fragile and susceptible to collapsing under the weight of your vehicle.
  • Only return home after authorities have instructed you to do so.
  • Do not enter a building surrounded by flood waters.
  • Be very careful when entering a building damaged by flood waters, as hidden damage is likely and can be extremely dangerous.
  • Be sure to repair damaged sewage systems, as these can cause serious health risks.
  • Clean and disinfect everything that got wet during the flood because flood waters may be contaminated.

2020-21: Fires, Heat and Rains

2020 started with forest fires in Canada, Brazil and bush fires across Australian coast, causing the death of at least two billion animals.

Tourism Australia Bites Back On 'Viral Bushfire Misinformation'
The Australian Bush fires

Come 2021, Greek, Turkish and Italian people experienced one of the hottest summers in history in 2021. In the Hellenic Republic of Greece, the temperatures reached 45 degree Celsius on 4th August. While this might be a pretty regularly recorded temperature in the tropic, the Balkans and the Anatolian peninsula recording such temperatures is worrisome. The temperatures led to a spontaneous spread of forest fires in and across Europe, Canada and Turkey – and people across the globe shared the plight of Turkey on social media since Turkey is not habitual with these fires and hence lacks the number of helicopters and jets to control these fires.

Sicily wildfires, August 2021
Turkey battles wildfires for 6th day, EU to send planes
Turkish Wildfires have been unprecedented for the country

China recorded floods it had never seen in the last 50 years of its history in 2021. A very worst form of excessive rainfalls was recorded in central and western Europe in July 2021 with countries like Germany completely overwhelmed by floods. This is in addition to the already burning Amazons and even Asian countries recording instances of Forest fires in a time not traditionally identified with the same. Russia and Finland and US are also heading towards a quite imminent diplomatic crisis given that the Arctic has already lost more than 50% of its ice opening up the once frozen Tundra and permafrost to petroleum and uranium explorations with the obvious geopolitical control over the area being a chief topic of contention.

Arctic cold war: climate change has ignited a new polar power struggle
Climate change has ignited a new proxy struggle for the domination of the ocean.
Climate change: Polar bears could be lost by 2100 - BBC News
These might be one of the last generation of the polar bears.

China and India claim to have planted at least a billion trees in the last 5 years with China keen on developing technologies that are associated with building forest towns – a human enclosure built within an artificial forest as the future of dwelling. France announced a closing of all its coal plants 2 years ahead of schedule. But is that all? Global statistics show a massive increase in demand for coal in 2020 and ’21.

Liuzhou Forest City | Stefano Boeri Architetti
The Liuzhou city might be the first forest city on the planet.

The images of environment recovering due to COVID might be fairly short lived.

Flood

Flood is a type of natural hazard, affecting humans and natural habitats, or even killing them. A flood can also cause severe damage to homes, factories, places in public, etc. Initially, the trees in the forest should not be cut down unethically because they can cause many human disasters, which include flooding. A flood occurs; therefore, it is not possible to absorb the rainwater in the plant root, so water flows directly.

Secondly, in our properties, in the desert field and along the side of the road, we can plant any plants so that the plant root can quickly suck up the water. It provides other incentives, such as reducing air contamination and embracing the ‘Go Green’ Global Warming and Climate Change Policy on our Planet. The last thing is that we should not throw waste anywhere to disturb the flow of the river. In Jakarta, for example, people want to dump the trash somewhere as in the canal, and also in the drainage, resulting in flooding every year. In many other places, such as Situ Gintung and Wasior, the other flood is because people like to throw waste anywhere. By doing that, we can minimize disasters and contribute to defending our environment. So, we have to keep our environment clean.

Flood is one of the most dangerous natural disasters. It happens when excessive water is collected in any area. It usually happens due to heavy rainfall. India is highly prone to flood. There are many regions in the country that face this natural disaster because of the overflowing of rivers. Moreover, it also happens because of the melting of snow. Another reason for floods is when the dam breaks down. If we look at the coastal areas, the hurricanes and tsunamis are held responsible for causing floods. In this essay on flood, we will see the prevention and after-affect of flood.

In other words, whatever the cause may be, it is equally dangerous. It has a lot of harmful consequences. Flood damages the living conditions and it takes a lot of time to recover from this disaster. Therefore, the consequences of floods must be known and steps must be taken to prevent it.

After-effects of Flood

Floods interrupt with the day to day functioning of the affected area. The severe floods sometimes cause mass destruction. A lot of people and animals lose their lives due to floods. Several others are injured. Floods also bring a rise in diseases. The stagnant water attracts mosquitoes causing malaria, dengue, and more illnesses.

Furthermore, people face power cuts due to the danger of electrocution. They also have to face expensive pricing. As the supply of food and goods gets limited, the prices naturally grow higher. This creates a big problem for the common man.

Most importantly, the whole country faces economic loss. The resources needed to rescue people and tackle this disaster demands a hefty amount. Plus, the citizens lose their houses and cars which they worked all their lives for.

Subsequently, floods also hamper the environment. It causes soil erosion and this degrades the quality of the soil. We lose out on fertile soil. Similarly, floods also damage flora and fauna. They damage crops and displace trees. Thus, the measure should be taken to avoid these grave consequences.

Ways to Prevent flood

The government and citizens must work together to formulate ways to prevent floods. Proper awareness must be spread about the steps to take when floods occur. Warning systems must be set up so people get sufficient time to save themselves. In addition, areas that are more likely to have floods must have tall buildings above the flood level.

Further, there should be an efficient system for storing excessive water due to rain. This will prevent the overflowing of water. One of the most important steps is to strengthen the drainage system. This can avoid water logging which will prevent floods.

Other than that, dams must be constructed strongly. The use of cheap materials causes dams to break. The government must ensure there is a quality building of dams to prevent floods.

In short, we cannot prevent natural causes like rain and the melting of glaciers. However, we can stop the manmade causes like breaking of dams, poor drainage system, installing warning systems and more. We should take inspiration from countries like Singapore that never experience floods despite having heavy rainfall for most time of the year.

Photo by hitesh choudhary on Pexels.com

Climate change| Are we finally going to compensate for the damage we did?

Death dolls due to floods in Italy, China, Germany and India keep rising. “Airpocalypse” in Siberia to forest fire, “Bootleg fire” in Oregon, flash floods in Southwest, Southeast and Northwestern Europe.

(AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Climate change – When there’s a significant change in weather in a given area over a period.

Intense climate change can occur due to external as well as internal factors. External factors including change in solar emission, change in global energy balance due to change in the Earth’s orbit around the Sun, and volcanic activity.

Internal factors are human induced which leads to Greenhouse Effect.

The classical period used for describing a climate is 30 years, as defined by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Floods:

A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land that is usually dry. In the sense of “flowing water”, the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide.

NEWS:

China’s central Henan province received its heaviest rainfall which led to massive floods, killing over two dozen people. Many dams have breached and it  flooded the highly populated downstream areas. Scientists have said many factors contribute to flooding, but a warming atmosphere caused by climate change made extreme rainfall (Cloudburst) more likely.

The People’s Republic of China is the world’s leading annual emitter of greenhouse gases and mercury.

High levels of air pollution in China’s cities caused to 350,000–400,000 premature deaths.

In India, Himachal Pradesh experienced torrential rain, cloudburst, and putting in many lives and environment. Floods and landslides has caused mayhem in more than 4 states in India.

Of the 30 most polluted cities in the world, 21 were in India in 2019.

Germany has taken a terrifying hit; causalities cross 160. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, has demanded to take faster climate action as the casualties keep on climbing.

Every News channel now covers how terrifying rainfall has caused havoc over the world. Will it take more causalities, economic damages in rich nations to take a significant step to heal our world? To find ways to cut down their harmful amount of chemicals? To see past their greed for money, power, and status, and adhere to the environmental damage?

We are human. Everything we have is all due to nature, all due to the abode we call Earth. If Earth doesn’t remain the same, if there is no land or adhering to our selfish intent let’s say, fertile land left, we would be constantly fighting to even have a pure drop of water or food for us to fetch.

Reality is far from movie. It is not going to be like 2012 (Movie) or the Earth isn’t going to go for full apocalypses mode wherein humanity can start over. It is the feeble attempt to believe we can start over. What if cloudbursts never stop, the land we polluted probably will merge with the oceans rivers we polluted. There won’t be any quality of life not only for us humans but also for other living beings who have done nothing but trying to maintain the ecosystem.

There are many things to ponder upon. Why do we take climate change so lightly? Why are people who strive to heal nature met with false notices and hopes?

Greta Thunberg, 18 years old Swedish activist, is known for challenging world leaders to take immediate action for climate change mitigation. We are surely proud of her and many more environmentalists. She is very vocal and dedicated to spreading awareness about the climate crisis, taking steps herself to let us see ways to protect our Earth, and target those in the power of controlling carbon emission to take steps.

But, I feel we let her and many down in many ways. If you recall, she pushed Siemens to make the “only right decision regarding projects such as Adani Group’s Carmichael thermal coal project. It has been a focus of environmentalists since 2010. The voices went unheard, But, a cartoon of her getting assaulted spread, all due to just voicing her concerns enraged and disgusted lakhs.

EVERY PROBLEM HAS A SOLUTION. WE ARE JUST NOT LOOKING HARD ENOUGH (INTENTIONALLY AND CONSCIOUSLY).

I believe that we need to come together, to use our success in the scientific field, to use our intellectuality, and to actively come up with eco-friendly alternatives. We can encourage environmentalists and environmental engineers to go on with their endeavors and lend strength to deal with things that pose a great risk to nature.

  • To make plantation drives a mandatory event in schools.
  • To encourage beach, ocean, and any water bodies clean-ups.
  • To teach basic greener alternatives.
  • To learn why we need to fight against climate change.

Let our voices, actions come together despite our conflicts and work to give back to Mother Earth.

China’s 5 Year Plan (2021-2025): Proposed Dam on River Brahmaputra

The five-year plans are a sequence of economic and social development initiatives furnished by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) since 1949. The five-year plans were inspired by the five-year plans from the USSR and the focus was on launching new schemes, reforms and setting new growth targets.

Since the 11th five-year plan (2006-2010), the Chinese government has mentioned it as ‘Guidelines’ instead of plans. Currently China is on its 14th five-year plan/ guidelines. Unlike the previous five year plans, there is no specific GDP growth target and instead, the government announced that growth would be kept in “reasonable range” and an annual target would be set based on the specific conditions each year. The focus of the current plan is on self-sufficiency as the country had to endure difficulty after the United States had restricted China’s major chip makers from using American technology. Other areas of focus will be on the above 7 percent growth in the research and development spending. The government will also try to raise the urban residents to 65 percent of the population while maintaining green development and increasing the life expectancy by 1 year. Infrastructure will also be an area of priority with a focus on high-quality development of the belt and road initiative.

One of the biggest infrastructure projects of the 14th The five-year plan (2021-2025) has been officially approved to build a series of dams in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, as the Brahmaputra is known in Tibet before it flows into India.

The proposed dam would be in Medog, Tibet region will have a maximum possible capacity of 60 gigawatts and could potentially produce 300 billion kWh annually. The location is an area called ‘the great bend’ also known as ‘Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon’ where the river goes through a very drastic U-turn and then the river descents from an elevation of 3000 meters to around 800 meters. Due to the drastic elevation change, the river flow is quite strong and is also an ideal location to build the dam.

The location of the dam could be a strategically risky move by china as it is very close to the Indian border but the other issue is that this proposed dam can undermine the water security of India. India relies heavily on the Brahmaputra River for agriculture and various other purposes.  Due to this, the proposed Dibang Dam by India in downstream (Arunachal Pradesh) might be the solution to offset the effect of the Chinese proposed dam. Although the majority of the catchment area of Brahmaputra is on the Indian side there is still the issue of water flow from the upstream as Assam usually suffers from floods in the rainy season and any additional water flow from the Chinese dam would make the situation worse. The problem will not only affect India but also Bangladesh due to its low-lying land and flood-prone region. Problem is that the region is ecologically diverse and sensitive and any kind of development in this region will negatively affect the ecology of this region. Due to turbulent tectonic plates, there are high chances of landslides and earthquakes as well. India will have to be vigilant and develop its strategy according to the developments on the Chinese side.

References:

A “wobble” in the moon’s orbit, according to NASA, may cause record flooding on Earth.

Because of a “wobble” in the moon’s orbit, which is acting in concert with climate change-fueled rising sea levels, every coast in the United States is experiencing fast-growing high tide floods.

New research published recently in the journal Nature Climate Change by NASA and the University of Hawaii warns that future changes in the moon’s orbit might result in record flooding on Earth in the next decade.

Researchers discovered flooding in American coastal towns may be many times worse in the 2030s, when the next moon “wobble” is projected to begin, by mapping the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) sea-level rise scenarios, flooding thresholds, and astronomical cycles. They predict major infrastructure damage and community displacement as a result of the water.

While the study emphasizes the grave position that coastal towns are in, the lunar wobble is a natural phenomenon that was first documented in 1728. The moon’s orbit causes periods of greater and lower tides every 18.6 years, although they aren’t harmful in and of themselves.

“Earth’s typical daily tides are suppressed during half of the Moon’s 18.6-year cycle: high tides are lower than usual, and low tides are higher than normal,” NASA says. “Tides are magnified in the second part of the cycle, with high tides getting higher and low tides getting lower. High tides are only going to get higher as the world’s sea level rises. As a result, half of the 18.6-year lunar cycle reduces the influence of rising sea levels on high tides, while the other half increases it.”

Scientists, on the other hand, are more alarmed this time. The next high tide floods are anticipated to be more severe and frequent than ever before as sea levels rise owing to climate change, compounding already dire projections.

In 2019, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported around 600 such floods. After another decade of sea-level rise, scientists predict three to four times that amount in the mid-2030s.

Based on the current study, these floods will emerge more often throughout the country and can occur in clusters lasting over a month, depending on the moon, Earth, and sun’s locations. Floods might occur as frequently as every day or every other day during certain alignments.

“Low-lying regions around sea level are becoming increasingly vulnerable and suffering as a result of rising floods, and the situation is only going to get worse,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said. “Coastal flooding on our coasts and throughout the world will continue to be exacerbated by the Moon’s gravitational pull, increasing sea levels, and climate change.”

Almost all of the United States’ continental coasts, as well as Hawaii and Guam, are likely to be affected. By the end of the century, sea-level rise is anticipated to have rendered hundreds of thousands of square kilometers of coastline untenable, displacing over 100 million people globally.

Researchers hope that their findings will spur more focused efforts to avert as many harmful effects on the environment and people’s welfare as possible before it becomes too late. While high tidal floods may not include as much water as hurricanes, their regularity poses a serious threat.

“What will have an impact is a cumulative effect over time,” said lead author Phil Thompson. “A firm cannot operate with its parking lot underwater if it floods 10 or 15 times each month. People lose their employment as a result of their inability to get to work. Sewage ponds have become a public health concern.”

The fragile ecology of the Himalayas

On 7 February 2021 Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district experienced a disaster in the form of an avalanche when a small portion of the Nanda Devi glacier broke off. The sudden deluge caused considerable damage to NTPC’s Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project and the Rishi Ganga Hydel Project. At least 72 people were confirmed to have been killed in the disaster. But this is not a new phenomenon and every year there are many reports of sudden deluge all across the Himalayan region.

The Himalayas has maintained the climate of the Indian subcontinent. Himalayas act as a barrier by diverting the monsoons to pour the rain in the fertile northern pains rather than to drift away to further north. Similarly, the mountain range also blocks the cold northern winds to reach the Indian subcontinent. The Himalayas all the way from Afghanistan to Myanmar with 110 peaks over 24,000 feet. They are also very rich in biodiversity and are the source of numerous perennial rivers and water bodies. Rivers like Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra that originate in the Himalayas are the lifelines of millions of people in the subcontinent.  

But in recent years, the Himalayan region has seen a drastic transformation with increasing population and deforestation. The Himalayas are still a very young mountain range and this means the region is not as stable as older mountain ranges. This is also the reason for the high number of earthquakes. There are many exploitative projects and resource extractions initiatives have are going throughout the region. The increasing influx of tourists in the Ladakh region which is increasing the pressure in the already sensitive region or the limestone extraction near Mussoorie which has transformed the surrounding lush mountain region barren and unstable are just some of the instances.  The cities located in the periphery of the Himalayas have started are also facing the same degradation problems in the plain region. Due to ever-increasing population growth, the size of cities is also increasing and this means overflowing garbage and drains. Unplanned growth of new settlements and uncontrolled tourism has only exacerbated this issue.

Photo by rasik on Pexels.com

Steps to safeguard the region

There is a need for safeguards on a national level that would help in preserving the fragile ecology of this region. First, it needs to be ensured that there is sustainable urbanization in the mountain habitats by town planning and adoption of architectural norms. Due to the sensitivity in this region, it is imperative that we have to control the growth of new settlements in the region and the existing settlements should be developed with all the basic urban facilities. Solid waste management is another area that needs to be the focus. Plastic bags use should be banned in all the towns and villages in the Himalayan region. Some states like Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim have enforced this rule but there are still many other states that have not fully implemented this rule. Pilgrimage is an important part of the tourism sector in the Himalayan region. Sustainable pilgrimage needs to be promoted and the inflow of pilgrims has to be determined according to the ecological capacity of that site. Roads are an essential node for the connectivity and development of a region but the construction of the roads and highways needs to take into account the sensitivity and fragility of the region as well. Environmental impact assessment should be compulsory before the construction of roads. Finally, environmental awareness needs to be propagated so that every individual can be empathetic and mindful of the dangers of environmental degradation. A coordinated effort will be essential between local cultures, local people, unions, and state governments to make this happen.

References:

http://www.ipcs.org/comm_select.php?articleNo=582

Climate Change and its Immediate future in India

One of the significant regions that will be affected by environmental change in its furthest point in the near future is South Asia, particularly India principally due to its different territory. Environmental change is required to have a genuine effect around here as the nation is quickly debilitating its regular assets subsequently, annihilating its current circumstance generally because of “urbanization, industrialization and financial development.” 

India faces a disturbing ecological and financial test in its push to ensure its quick draining of normal assets. Water and air quality are deteriorating step by step because of the increase of different toxins in the air. Furthermore, the areas that will be exposed to the most noteworthy openness to environmental change are the country’s waterfront eco frameworks, biodiversity and farming efficiency. Additionally, the locale is as of now subject to regular dangers, for example, the 2013 Uttarakhand floods, landslides, the 2015 Chennai flood and the 2016 dry spell. 

There is additionally proof of unmistakable expansions in the force or potential recurrence of numerous outrageous climate occasions, for example, heat waves, expanded droughts and serious precipitation. The antagonistic effects of such calamities range from hunger, weakness to infections, loss of pay and livelihoods.15 According to the World Bank, an increment of 2°C on the planet’s normal temperature in the following not many years will just make India’s rainstorm more erratic. The change in downpour designs across India is anticipated to leave various regions submerged and others without enough water in any event, for drinking. 

“In India, over 60% of the harvest region is downpour taken care of, making it profoundly defenseless against environment instigated changes in precipitation designs. It is assessed that by the 2050s, with a temperature increment of 2°C-2.5°C contrasted with pre-modern levels, water for rural creation in the stream bowls of the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra will decrease further and may affect food sufficiency for about 63 million individuals.” 

A hotter environment is likewise expected to hinder the neediness decrease rate. Despite the fact that environmental change will influence everybody’s lives in the area, poor people will be the most influenced as they are the once generally subject to rain-based farming and have no or insignificant assets to support their business. An expansion of 2°C by the 2040s will hit crop creation in South Asia as well and will lessen the yield by 12%, requiring more imports to satisfy needs at home. Likewise, diminishing food accessibility would lead to extensive medical conditions particularly among ladies and youngsters. Dissolving of icy masses and loss of 

Snow presents a critical danger to solid water assets in India. Fundamental waterways like the Ganges, Indus and Brahmaputra, rely altogether upon snow and frosty dissolved water, which makes them even more vulnerable to unfavorable effects of a dangerous atmospheric deviation. This could additionally expand the danger of flooding of low regions and represent a danger to horticulture. Having momentarily investigated the effect of environmental change, the accompanying area will have an endless supply of the new climate occasions that were generally an immediate consequence of environmental change in India.

Lower-carbon improvement, however, could yield quick advantages, for example, cleaner air, more prominent energy security and fast occupation creation. India’s environment targets are viewed as ‘2°C viable’, for example a decent amount of worldwide exertion. Be that as it may, seeking after a cleaner, more asset productive way could invigorate a quicker, more attractive monetary recuperation and secure India’s thriving and seriousness in the long haul.

What is Flood

 India is highly vulnerable to floods. Out of the total geographical area of 329 million hectares (mha), more than 40 mha is flood prone. Floods are a recurrent phenomenon, which cause huge loss of lives and damage to livelihood systems, property, infrastructure and public utilities. It is a cause for concern that flood related damages show an increasing trend. The average annual flood damage in the last 10 years period from 1996 to 2005 was Rs. 4745 crore as compared to Rs. 1805 crore, the corresponding average for the previous 53 years. This can be attributed to many reasons including a steep increase in population, rapid urbanization growing developmental and economic activities in flood plains coupled with global warming.

An average every year, 75 lakh hectares of land is affected, 1600 lives are lost and the damage caused to crops, houses and public utilities is Rs.1805 crores due to floods. The maximum number of lives (11,316) was lost in the year 1977. The frequency of major floods is more than once in five years.

Floods have also occurred in areas, which were earlier not considered flood prone. An effort has been made in these Guidelines to cover the entire gamut of Flood Management. Eighty per cent of the precipitation takes place in the monsoon months from June to September. The rivers a bring heavy sediment load from catchments. These, coupled with inadequate carrying capacity of rivers are responsible for causing floods, drainage congestion and erosion of river-banks. Cyclones, cyclonic circulations and cloud bursts cause flash floods and lead to huge losses. It is a fact that some of the rivers causing damage in India originate in neighboring countries; adding another complex dimension to the problem. Continuing and large-scale loss of lives and damage to public and private property due to floods indicate that we are still to develop an effective response to floods. NDMA’s Executive Summary Guidelines have been prepared to enable the various implementing and stakeholder agencies to effectively address the critical areas for minimising flood damage.

Floods

 

Emergency Kit

  • Battery operated torch
  • Extra batteries
  • Battery operated radio
  • First aid kit and essential medicines
  • Emergency food (dry items) and water (packed and sealed)
  • Candles and matches in a waterproof container
  • Knife
  • Chlorine tablets or powdered water 
  • Important documents (Ration card, Voter ID card, Aadhar Card etc.)
  • Cash, Aadhar Card and Ration Card
  • Thick ropes and cords
  • Shoes