Just documenting my two cents on personal disaster management, esp rain and floods.
Communication:
1) Just 900mAh battery basic mobile phone with keypad, only for voice calls and text will survive days, whatever the brand it may be.
2) A power bank that can keep a smartphone living for twice or thrice its juice for whatsapp. Powerbanks are cheap starting from 250Rs.
http://www.snapdeal.com/products/mobiles-power-banks
3) A BSNL landline and cell phone connection. This may not be funny.
I was able to communicate to my cousin in chennai all flood days on the landline phone. Even under waterlogged conditions, the junction box pillars sometimes survive the water.
The mobile towers after power shutdown were run by diesel and the private operators just stopped within a day while BSNL continued to operate on loss. The following is the FAILURE rate of mobile signals in chennai during floods (Source: The Hindu 6-12-2015)
BSNL. 22.5%
AIRTEL. 53%
IDEA. 84%
RELIANCE. 80%
AIRCEL. 60%
SSTL. 82%
DDSL. 94%
VODAFONE 100% (None of their 1669 towers were operational)
Power:
4) Opt for roof top solar panels with MPT, if you can afford. Then one can be least bothered whether our local powergrid is operational. Though the output is less in cloudy rainy days, it wont fail.
Even on other days it saves money for us. We save 40% of our current bills at home for past 2 years. Only water pump and Fridge run in commercial power.
Drinking water :
5) If it rains, you have the best water to drink. Just get your empty vessels to terrace.
Any other water is safe to drink with 15 mins/5 whistles in pressure cooker.
Food:
ORS/Drinking water with some salt/sugar will suffice to keep our body fluids to balanced to some extent.
Toilet:
Flush with flood water outside the hosue.
Vehicles:
6) Don't underestimate the power of flowing current. Avoid driving over flowing water that is higher than 12 inches (Tyre size of small cars), you will be pulled along.
Do not sit inside or above the vehicles to escape. Just move away. Your life is precious than the vehicle.
7) If you are more enthusiastic, learn about HAM radio, the distress and disaster control means of communication. You can transmit and receive over VHF band to anyone around with same capabilities. The device will cost around Rs.3-4k.The only thing is you need a license to operate it and easy to obtain with a small exam. The south HQ is in kandanchavadi
SRHQ, Near FACIT ASIA LTD., Perungudi, Kandanchavadi, Chennai - 600 096, Tamil Nadu.
http://www.hamradio.in/amateur_radio/
8) National institute for disaster management is a govt. authority that trains public and civil servants to manage crisis on varied instances like Earthquake, flood, drought, landslides, avalanche or anything that is geographic and socio economic.
They give physical training in all states in particular locations all around the year with a calendar schedule. Online trainings are also there at nominal cost.
Refer http://nidm.gov.in
9) Learn to swim. Now.
10) Take a note of all centralized help lines in your city and if possible the personal contact of Electricity, PWD incharge for your area.
11) Last but not least, Network with your neighbors.
Feel free to add more and spread the message.
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