What to do in case of severe weather

Bad weather, especially when it rains heavily, should not be underestimated and should encourage caution, both inside and outside the home. Furthermore, technology allows us to be informed well in advance, both through forecasts, both in the case of warnings from the Civil Protection (which must always be listened to). And precautions must be commensurate with the location (a delicate situation could be traveling by car while the rain becomes torrential) and also with the post-storm situation, when, for example, it is advisable to stay away from underground power lines.

Tips for dealing with bad weather

Ma How to protect yourself from bad weatherIs it possible to protect ourselves from very heavy rains, combined with the wind and the risk of flooding? Here are the tips which we obtained by consulting the best experts on the subject, starting with the Civil Protection technicians.

• Check the forecast. It's not like it used to be, when weather forecasts were a kind of myth, a lottery bet. And they could turn out to be completely unfounded. Thanks to technological progress, today we can know with absolute certainty and well in advance, at least two or three days, the arrival of bad weather. And its intensity. Enough to take the first, correct countermeasures: for example, avoiding leaving for a journey in a moment of severe bad weather.
• Listen to Civil Protection warnings. A weather alert is an official institutional warning that must be taken seriously: it is issued to prevent and avoid risky and dangerous situations. Specifically, there are four levels of severity: green when no critical situations are identified, yellow for ordinary critical situations such as localized or occasional weather phenomena, orange for moderate critical situations and intense and persistent weather conditions, and red for highly critical situations that could cause significant damage to people, residential areas, buildings, and infrastructure.
• Give up the car. First of all, avoid driving unless absolutely necessary. In heavy rain, increase your following distance from vehicles in front and drive without sudden acceleration or braking. Beware of gusts of wind: they tend to cause the vehicle to skid. Consider stopping in a rest area until the storm abates: remember that thunderstorms drastically reduce visibility.

• No bridges or underpasses. Severe weather can have serious repercussions on the structure of bridges and cause flooding of underpasses.
• Avoid areas near waterways. In case of heavy rain and risk of flooding, avoid driving, follow the instructions provided by the authorities and avoid driving on flooded roads.
• Be careful at home too. Avoid staying under roofs and balconies and close the windows tightly. In the event of strong wind gusts associated with a cyclone, evacuate the basement and ground floors and seek refuge on upper floors. Bring pets with you, turn off the gas, and stay indoors until the authorities declare the emergency over.
• In the mountains, avoid exposed paths. In case of a storm or strong winds, descend and seek shelter inside a cave. Avoid routes equipped with ropes and metal ladders.
• At the seaside, don't brave typhoons and tropical rains. Avoid entering the water at all costs and immediately move away from the shore or the edges of the pool. Do not use umbrellas, fishing rods, or other metal objects. Do not stand on piers or docks, and do not use boats.
• How to avoid lightning dangers. At home, if a severe thunderstorm is raging, avoid using electrical appliances; unplug computers, televisions, washing machines, and dishwashers. Also, avoid using water for showering or washing dishes and clothes. If the thunderstorm and lightning strike you outside, however, do not seek shelter from the rain under poles and trees. Remove any metal objects you are wearing, such as necklaces, earrings, rings, and bracelets, and stay away from high-voltage pylons.
• Don't challenge Nature. In general, all the advice we've given, which often draws on common sense, can be boiled down to one essential rule: never challenge Nature. Many philosophers, even in ancient Greece, practiced this life principle, encouraging humanity to pursue and seek progress, but always keeping in mind a limit: the power of Nature, from which it is best to always take a step back.

At the sea

• Avoid di stay in the water in /// di temporal
• Even on the beach, under the umbrella or on the cot: they are not safe places
• If you have to navigate by boat, or by a vehicle di For transportation (from ship to hydrofoil), always check the weather forecast, which is now updated in real time and reliable. And remember that the sea is not to be challenged. Never
• If you are on a boat and the sea suddenly rises, avoid di head immediately for the coast, and look for di resist at sea
• Take advantage of the bad weather to do some program di land. Visit a nearby village, go to a museum, visit some local markets, discover some wellness centers in the area

In the mountains

• There are small churches and small museums di mountains that are sometimes unmissable. Take advantage of the time and take a trip.
• Same goes for the town centres di Mountains
• Go down to the valley and treat yourself to a day of immersion in a city of art
• In every location di The mountains are not without a wellness center or a beautiful public indoor pool. These are the perfect places on days di Maltempo
• Come back in wood As soon as the weather clears up. After the rain, the forest has a special charm of its own.
• Avoid mountain walks during rain, especially at high altitudes, isolated areas, and do not take shelter under trees.
• Don't listen to the old saying that “a lightning It never falls in the same place twice.” That's simply not true.

What to do in case of a strong storm

• If you are traveling, stop the car and park in a well-sheltered place. With the windows closed.
• If you are at home, do not leave until conditions allow. And unplug the appliances.
• If you are walking, keep a safe distance from waterways and do not stop near a bridge.
• If the wind is very strong, do not stop under billboards or scaffolding. Nor under the trees.
• Suspend all outdoor sports activities.
• Make sure you stay informed about the weather forecast so you can understand how the situation will evolve.

Read also:

• Rigopiano massacre: warnings ignored by a state that always intervenes haphazardly.
• Floods, rain-soaked deaths. Without prevention, without landscaping. And arguing over warnings (photos and video)
• What to do in case of flood