Monsoon Preparedness

Monsoon will be be here on June 10th. Everyone has
an idea about when it will arrive, but the general
consensus is June 10th. At the office we have had
lectures on monsoon preparedness. Such preparations
include the following:

- take note of websites that track the weather
- keep a case of bottled water in the house in case you
need to wash with it when the sewers leak in to the
water supply
- keep a flashlight, umbrella, bottled water, and light
snack in the car at all times
- Candles, matches, flashlights should be at hand at home
- Develop an emergency plan - phone numbers for people
to call and for you to call in case of emergency
- keep cell phones charge at all times
- Ensure car tires have appropropriate groove depth
- Buy electrical mosquito repellent for every room
in the house
- Have a malaria test kit handy and learn how to test for
malaria
- Have your doctor's phone number handy
- Place mosquito netting over and around your bed
- if you go outside, spray yourself well with repellent
- keep important documents in a watertight bag and close
to hand in your house
- make high quality copies of all immigration
documents, passports, etc.

Here are some warnings:
- allow extra time for travel when it rains
- Children can play in the rain, but when they are done
take them inside immediately and wash them off with
clean water
- Feed aforementioned children hot chicken noodle soup to
warm them up
- If you get caught in the rain, take a shower as soon
as you get home - use bottled water if flooding is bad
- Absolutely under no circumstances go outside when it
floods - uncovered manholes and holes in the middle
of the street may entrap and drown you
- In severe flooding do not shower or bathe
- when bathing children, be extra careful to prevent
them from drinking the bath water
- In the car, do not try to cross water >6 inches deep
- If you are stranded, stay in your car
- If the water rises, get out of your car and head to
higher ground
- Do NOT allow any open wound to get wet - rat and dog
urine in pools of water can lead to septicemia
- pay attention to tidal charts (there's a website)
and take extra care if heavy rains occur at high tide.