In a place known for its sunny weather, San Francisco residents are in for a shock as they are currently experiencing heavy rains in their city. It’s gotten so bad to the point that a highway has been shut down due to heavy flooding. Some have been urged to evacuate out of their homes due to a risk of a mudslide in their area, and experts have predicted some deaths to happen due to the severity of this calamity.
A lot of San Francisco residents are not equipped for situations like this, having gotten used to California’s year-round hot and dry seasons. The situation continues to worsen, putting a lot of people at risk. Trees are reportedly collapsing as well as hillsides, and widespread power outages are projected to occur throughout the city. As a result, some nearby cities have declared a state of emergency including San Jose.
The worsening weather conditions show no signs of slowing down any time soon, and the people affected must do what they can now to protect themselves and their families.
Here are some ways they can do just that:
STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE NEWS
Staying up-to-date with the news is an effective way to make sure that you and your family are staying safe during the storm. The news keeps you updated on the local weather conditions, which will inform you of the necessary precautions you need to take in order to protect yourself. In addition, news channels also send out directives relayed by the proper authorities.
STAY AWAY FROM BODIES OF WATER
It goes without saying: you need to stay away from bodies of water especially when there’s a flood all over the city. If not, you risk getting whisked away by rapid currents and you may drown. Say you manage to survive: fact remains that it will still be very difficult to swim back ashore. Not to mention, you could also acquire multiple injuries.
STAY AWAY FROM OBJECTS THAT CONDUCT ELECTRICITY
Contrary to popular belief, water is actually a poor conductor of electricity. Does this mean that you should not heed this advice? No. While pure water by itself is a poor conductor of electricity, it is often mixed with metallic ions that could, in turn harm you if it comes into contact with electricity. Considering the current state of San Francisco, it’s best for residents to stay away from objects that conduct electricity such as:
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Pots and pans
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Kitchen utensils
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Jewelry
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Pens
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Metallic Appliances
AVOID DRIVING
With multiple San Francisco highways closed down due to flooding, it’s best to avoid driving altogether. It’s very plausible that you may get stranded in the rain which will put you in danger. Moreover, it may inflict some (very expensive) damages to your vehicle.
GET COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE
But considering California’s car-centric culture, people cannot simply avoid driving. Therefore, make sure to get yourself some comprehensive car coverage. This will protect you from damages inflicted on your car in situations that doesn’t involve collisions such as:
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Theft
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Natural disasters
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Fire
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Vandalism
The only “bad” thing about this is that it will most likely increase your premium. However, the added protection you will get as a result of having this type of coverage is worth it. As seen above, not only does it protect your car from damages due to flooding, its protection also extends to situations unrelated to extreme weather conditions (ie: theft).