Neighbourhood flooding is a common occurence in the month of June as we experience heavy rains once in a while.

If you live in an area where floods are likely to occur when it rains, you need to follow these guidelines which will keep your home safe and prevent neighbourhood flooding during this period.The 10 rules you should consider in protecting your home against neighbourhood flooding include:

1.  Check if there are leaks in the roofs and on the floor and make sure they are fixed before the rains set in. One quick way to know if there are leaks in the roof is to test if there are any wet spots or patches. If the roof is beyond repairs, it is appropriate to replace the entire roof.

2. Clear drainages in and near your house. Ensure that the drainage is not choked to prevent the free flow of water during this period.                           

3. Raise the sides of your drains if they are too low to prevent the flow of silt and other waste materials into them. Do not dump refuse, rubbish and other waste in the drainage. Make sure they are properly cleared.

4. If your property is prone to floods, place valuable items on the top shelf. It will be more helpful to store these items in a family or friends’ apartment for the duration of the floods.

5. Reserve natural vegetation. Plant trees on steep slope to prevent water from washing the soil.
The roots of plants are able to slow the flow of flood waters.

6. If you live in a flood prone area, pack up an emergency kit which will contain medication, clothes for your family members which you will carry around when it floods.

7. Clear the floor of carpets, rugs and other items which might get wet and create drains by the house to allow the free flow of excess water when it floods.

8. Check all electrical fitting for faults. If your property is located in a flood-prone area, fix all sockets and switches at a certain height, above the flooding level. This will prevent shocks and electrocutions when it rains.
If there are visible signs of a storm when you are leaving the house, ensure all switches are turned off.

9. One important activity to undertake before the rainy season is to cut all overgrown branches of trees near your house since they can break into the roof and cause them to leak. Branches of trees can also damage electricity cables which is likely to cause fire.

10. Keep in mind these important emergency numbers: The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) headquarters – +233 – (0)302 – 780 221 / 762 593. They will come to your aid when you are experiencing floods in your neighbourhood. You can also call the Ghana Police Emergency numbers on 191 or the Fire Service on 192/193.