Kerala floods: Here are a list of do’s and don’ts when water recedes and you go back home

With the water levels receding in Kerala after days of continuous rain, a number of people are moving back from relief camps to their homes.

This, too, can be taxing as the water levels may have altered a lot of the building's structure in terms of expansion and contraction of walls because of the water levels.

Kerala-based magazine Manorama released a list of do's and don'ts to follow when you move back home.

Before entering the house

1 While speaking of vigilance, the directive asks people not to venture out alone after a flood. Take 2-3 family members or friends with you, and never take children if you’re stepping out to ask for help.

2 People are also advised not to travel at night. The logic, the directive says, is that during daytime everything can be seen. People are also advised caution while opening gates that have cement fences. “Everything has been underwater and even cement can collapse,” the directive states. Similarly, wooden doors would have bloated in the floods, which would make it tough to open. “Don’t apply too much force at a go because the drenched walls would not be in the best shape

3 People are also advised to carry a mask and not touch corpses with their bare hands

Inside the house

1 As soon as you enter the house, open all the windows to let fresh air inside. If a foul smell persists, then leave the house immediately

2 Keep the refrigerator in off mode and open the door carefully, as there will be a lot of contaminated food items. If you’re a non-vegetarian, be extra careful as rotten meat tends to give out methane that can quickly exit the fridge

3 Do not light a candle or smoke a cigarette immediately after entering the house, as there are chances that there could be a gas leak because of the heavy flooding

4 Call an electrician to check all the wirings at home

5 Check all the gaps to see if snakes have come into the house

6 Open all the taps and pull the flushes to see if there is muddy water or regular water

7 Mark with acrylic or chalk on the wall the level till where water has risen in the house. This will prove helpful in understanding the risks of living in low-lying areas.

Earlier with the water levels receding, the Kerala government directed the central ministries to focus on providing essential commodities and medicine and restoration of vital services in flood-hit Kerala.

The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) in its review meeting directed that focus should now be on provision of emergency supplies of food, water, medicines and restoration of essential services such as power, fuel, telecom and transport links as flood water recedes in Kerala, an official spokesperson said.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said a total of 6,33,010 people are staying in 2,971 relief camps in Kerala and around 38,000 flood affected people have also been rescued by different agencies so far.