Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority - Eastern Mirror
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Op-Ed

Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority

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By EMN Updated: May 07, 2018 10:49 pm

WEATHER PRECAUTIONARIES

The following precautions may be adhered to:

Warning signs:

  • High winds, rainfall and darkening cloud cover
  • Thunderstorms overhead/ nearby
  • Louder or more frequent thunder

Facts:

  • Lightening generally strikes the tallest object
  • No place is completely safe but some places are safer than others
  • Large enclosed structures are safer than smaller/ open structure
  • Lightening may strike the same place repeatedly
  • Most lightening deaths and injuries occur to people caught outdoors
  • You can touch lightening victims (they carry no electrical charge). Attend to them immediately

Before lightening/ Thunderstorm strikes:

  • Keep yourself informed of local weather alert/ predictions accessible in your locality
  • Be aware of medical contact details for lightning emergency
  • Make emergency plan for self/ family
  • Keep the emergency kit ready
  • Postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorm is forecast
  • Unplug electrical appliances
  • Remove dead or rotting trees and branches around your house/ building

If indoors:

  • Close your windows and doors
  • Stay away from windows and doors, railings, porches/porticos

If outdoors:

  • Move towards a safe shelter (strong building) immediately
  • Stay away from tractors, farm equipments, motorcycles, bicycles etc
  • If driving, try to safely exit road and park, away from isolated tree and areas prone to flash flooding
  • Generally, enclosed metal vehicles (cars, buses etc) with the windows rolled up, are better shelter than being in the open.
  • Stay AWAY from loose hanging power lines
  • If in a forest: Get shelter in a low area under a thick undergrowth of small trees
  • In other open areas: Try to go to a low place such as a ravine (but be alert for flash floods)
  • If in water get to land and find safe shelter immediately
  • FARMERS ARE ADVISED NOT TO BUILD TEMPORARY HUTS ON RIVER BANKS OR SPEND NIGHTS IN THE FIELD DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER AS A CLOUDBURST/THUNDERSTORM MAY CAUSE LANDSLIDES AND FLASH FLOODS

If Lightning / Thunderstorm strikes:

  • Call for medical assistance and ambulance immediately
  • It is safe to touch lightening victims and provide medical treatment
  • In cold, wet situations put a protective layer between the victim and the ground to lower the risk of hypothermia (very low body temperature)
  • Attend to the victims as follows:
  • If breathing stops: begin mouth- to- mouth resuscitation
  • If heartbeat stops: administer Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) until medical assistance arrives.
  • If victim has pulse: look for other possible injuries/ burns/ hearing-loss/ eyesight- loss

Preparedness:

  • If a storm is approaching, avoid high places, hill tops, open fields, separate trees, rain/bus/picnic, shelters, communications towers, flag-poles, electric/light poles, metal fences, open vehicles and water

Don’ts

      If indoors:

  • Do not use/touch corded phones/mobile/other devices plugged into electric (Cordless and wireless phones not connected to wall outlets are safer to use in case of emergency).
  • Do not use electrical devices immediately after thunder/ lightning
  • Do not wash your hands, take bath/ shower, wash dishes and do laundry
  • Do not lie on concrete floors/ lean against concrete walls
  • Avoid contact with any conductive surfaces (metal doors, window frames, wiring and plumbing/ water-taps)

If Outdoors:

  • Do not stand below or near a tree in case of thunder/storm/lightning
  • Avoid separated sheds or other small structures in open areas
  • Avoid contact with metal/ conductor parts of the vehicle
  • Stay away from loose hanging power cables.

 

Issued in public interest: Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), Home Department.

 

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By EMN Updated: May 07, 2018 10:49:08 pm
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