Specific Behavioural Recommendations

  • Act calmly, rationally and as independently as possible. Do not take unnecessary risks, immediately leave areas that are threatened.
  • If floods are imminent do not enter cellars or underground garages. Do not drive a car/bicycle over flooded roads.
  • Avoid areas that are threatening to flood, such as river banks. You might become the victim of a tidal wave and banks that have been washed away might collapse.

General Behavioural Recommendations

  • Inform yourself via radio and television and follow the instructions given by the authorities and emergency organisations..
  • Call the emergency services only in an emergency.
  • Use the telephone and other important means of communication only for important and urgent requirements (danger of network overload).
  • Use cars and other means of transport only for important and urgent requirements (danger of traffic overload).
  • Act particularly careful in traffic (danger due to breakdown of traffic lights, barriers etc.).
  • Inform and support neighbours and people needing assistance in your vicinity.

Source: Alertswiss

During floods, areas that are otherwise dry are flooded. Floods can occur when streams and rivers carry large amounts of water, after severe precipitation (rain or snow), when large amounts of snow thaw suddenly or when more groundwater surfaces than normally. Lake flooding usually doesn’t last as long and has less destructive potential than streams or rivers bursting their banks. This can occur with high velocity and can cause enormous damage in a very short amount of time.