Are you prepared? - Meteo-hydro risk

Awareness of whether the area where you live, work or stay is at risk of floods helps you better prevent and deal with emergency situations.

Remember:

• It is important to know what floods are likely to occur in your area
• If there have been floods in the past, it is possible that there will be floods in the future.
• In some cases it is difficult to determine exactly where and when floods will occur and you may not be alerted in time
• Water can rise suddenly, even one or two feet in a few minutes
• Some places will flood sooner than others. At home, the most dangerous areas are cellars, basements and ground floors;
• Outdoors underpasses, stretches close to embankments and bridges, roads with steep slopes and in general all areas lower than the surrounding area are more at risk
• The force of the water can also damage buildings and infrastructures (bridges, embankments, levees) and the most vulnerable ones could give way or collapse suddenly

With simple actions, you too can help reduce flood risk.

• Respect the environment and if you see abandoned bulky waste, clogged manholes, partially blocked waterways, etc., inform your municipality.
• Ask your municipality for information on the Emergency Plan to know what are the flood risk areas, escape routes and safe areas of your city: if there is not, ask for its implementation, to know what to do.
• Identify the tools that the region uses to issue the alert and keep yourself constantly informed.
• Make sure school or workplaces receives alerts and has a proper emergency plan for flood risk.
• If there are people in your family who need special assistance, make sure that the municipal emergency plan includes specific measures.
• Avoid storing important items in basements or cellars.
• Make sure that in case of need it is easy to reach the higher floors of your building.
• Keep copies of documents, a first-aid kit, a flashlight, and a battery-powered radio in your home and make sure everyone knows where they are.
• Learn the correct behavior to adopt in case of an alert, during a flood and after.

What to do - Before the flood

• Keep yourself informed about the dangerous situations in the area and the measures taken by your municipality.
• Do not sleep in basements and avoid staying there.
• Protect the rooms that are located at street level and close the doors of cellars, basements or garages only if they do not endanger you.
• If you need to move, plan the route and avoid flooding areas.
• Consider whether to secure your car or other goods - it can be dangerous.
• Share what you know about warning and correct behaviors.
• Make sure your child's school is aware of the current alert and is ready to activate its emergency plan.

What to do - During a Flood

When indoors

• Do not go down into basements, cellars or garages to secure your belongings - you risk your life.
• Do not go outside at all to secure your car.
• If you are in a basement or ground floor space, go upstairs.
• Avoid the elevator: it can get stuck.
• Help the elderly and people with disabilities in the building.
• Turn off the gas and shut off the electrical system.
• Do not touch electrical fixtures and appliances with wet hands or feet.
• Do not drink water from the tap: it may be contaminated
• Limit cell phone use: keeping the lines clear makes it easier for rescue.
• Keep yourself informed on how the situation evolves and follow the indications provided by the authorities

When outdoor

• Move away from the flooded area: the speed of water flow may cause a person to fall even a few inches.
• Move quickly to the next higher area - go up to the upper floors of a building- avoiding slopes or man-made embankments that could collapse.
• Be careful where you walk - there may be sinkholes, potholes, open manholes, etc.
• Avoid using the car. Even a few inches of water could cause you to lose control of your vehicle or cause a shutdown: you could be trapped.
• Avoid underpasses, embankments, bridges: stopping or passing through these places can be very dangerous.
• Limit the use of your cell phone: keeping the lines free facilitates the rescue.
• Keep yourself informed on how the situation evolves and follow the indications provided by the authorities.

WHAT TO DO After the flood

• Follow the instructions of the authorities before taking any action, such as going back into your home, shoveling mud, emptying water from basements, etc.
• Do not drive along flooded streets: there may be sinkholes, potholes, open manholes or sheared power lines. In addition, the water may be polluted by fuels or other substances.
• Also pay attention to areas where water has receded - the roadbed may be weakened and failing.
• Check to see if you can reactivate the gas and electrical systems. If necessary, seek advice from a technician.
• Before using sewage systems, make sure that sewers, septic tanks and wells are not damaged.
• Before drinking water from the tap, make sure that municipal ordinances or notices do not prohibit it; do not eat food that has come in contact with flood water: it could be contaminated.

Prevention in case of avalanche risk consists first of all in knowing which are the areas where the phenomena occur. Avalanches often occur in the same places: high mountain areas with bare rocky terrain, between 2.000 and 3.000 meters mostly without vegetation cover. It is important to avoid the areas at risk in the periods in which the detachments are expected. They occur frequently at the beginning of spring when the rise in temperature can cause the sudden melting of the snow masses.

Before

• Ask the lift company about snow conditions and slopes;
• Frequently consult snow and weather bulletins, which provide quick and concise information on the danger of avalanches, according to a scale of 1 to 5;
• Avoid being alone: for self-rescue operations it is essential that at least one member of the group is not trapped by the avalanche;
• Respect the signs and indications on the slopes regarding the conditions of the ski-mountaineering and off-piste descent routes;
• Avoid passing through steep slopes with heavy snowfall, especially in the hottest hours;
• Avoid crossing suspicious areas such as open slopes, gullies, downwind areas;
• Use the safest spots in the terrain, such as rocks and flat sections, when moving;
• Equip yourself with an avalanche transceiver (ARVA), a light probe to locate the exact spot where the buried person is and a shovel to be able to quickly remove the snow: in most cases the depth of burial is around one meter. This equipment must be in the possession of each member of the group.

During 

• Remember that in case of an avalanche the snow tends to pile up in the central area and could be easier to find a lateral escape route; 
• Try to keep a clear space in front of your chest; 
• Move your arms and legs, as if you were swimming, trying to get closer to the edge of the avalanche and stay on the surface.
• Prevention in case of avalanche risk consists primarily in understanding the areas where the phenomena are likely to occur. Avalanches occur usually in the same places: high mountain areas with bare rocky ground, between 2.000 and 3.000 meters, without vegetation. It is important to avoid the risk areas during periods of expected avalanches, frequent at the beginning of spring when the rise in temperature may cause the sudden melting of snow.

Listen to the radio, browse the internet or watch television to know if adverse weather warnings or civil protection alerts have been issued. Also during and after the event it is important to listen to the radio or watch television to know the course of events.

Remember that in case of a landslide there are no houses or walls that can stop it. Only a higher place can protect you.
Landslides often move suddenly, like mudflows: avoid passing near areas already subject to ground movements, especially during storms or heavy rains.

Before

• Contact your municipality to see if there are any landslide-prone areas;
• Observe the ground near you to check for small landslides or small changes in the terrain: in some cases, small changes in morphology can be considered precursors of landslide events;
• In some cases, some cracks and fractures are visible on buildings before landslides; some walls tend to rotate or shift;
• Away from watercourses or stream ruts in which there may be the possibility of rapid mudflow.

During

• If the mudslide is heading toward you or if it is below you, move away to a higher or more stable place as fast as possible;
• If it is not possible to escape, curl up on yourself as much as possible and protect your head;
• Always look toward the landslide, paying attention to stones or other objects that might hit you as they bounce;
• Do not stop under poles or pylons - they could collapse or fall;
• Do not approach the edge of a landslide because it is unstable;
• If you're driving on a road and come across a freshly fallen landslide, try to signal the danger to other cars that may pass by.

After

• Quickly check to see if there are any injuries or people trapped in the landslide area, without going directly into it. In this case, report the presence of these people to the rescuers;
• Immediately move away from the landslide area. There may be a risk of further ground movement;
• Check for people who need assistance, especially children, the elderly, and people with disabilities;
• Landslides can often cause power, gas and water lines to break, along with disruption to roads and railroads. Report any disruptions to the authorities;
• In the event of a gas leak from a building, do not go inside to turn off the faucet. Check to see if there is a main breaker outside the home and if so, close it. Report the situation to the fire department or other qualified personnel.
   

You have to consider how quickly thunderclouds develop and expand, thus leading the storm to reach the moment of its maximum intensity without leaving much time to find shelter.
 
Before

Check the weather conditions when planning outdoor activities, such as an outing, a day dedicated to fishing or beach activities, an excursion or hiking, by checking in advance the forecasts issued by the competent meteorological offices, which also indicate whether the situation will be more or less favorable to the development of thunderstorms in the area and on the day you are interested.

Remember that the location and timing of these phenomena, in most cases, are impossible to accurately determine with sufficient advance: the general framework outlined by the forecast bulletins, therefore, should always be integrated with real-time observations.

In the event of a thunderstorm

Constantly observe the atmospheric conditions, in particular pay attention to the possible presence of precursor signals of the imminent arrival of a thunderstorm, and decide what to do:

• if there are very vertically developed cumuliform clouds in the sky, and the day in the valley may be hot and sultry, in the following hours it is better to avoid open and exposed environments (such as a mountain ridge or the shore of the sea or lake);
• do not hesitate to reschedule your day: in some cases these precautions may prove to be exaggerated since a precursor signal does not provide absolute certainty of a storm. Also, a storm may develop a few kilometers away without affecting your location. However, you should never forget that there is no way to predict exactly this evolution and when the sky tends to darken significantly, showing the classic dark and threatening connotations that predict with certainty the arrival of the storm, at that point the time available to get to safety will be very little, in most cases insufficient. Remember that with these phenomena an excess of caution is always preferable to a lack of prudence.

In an exposed environment, while it starts to flash and thunder

If you see lightning, especially in the twilight hours and at night, the storm may still be far away, even tens of kilometers away. In this case, move away in good time, anticipating the possible approach of the storm.

However, if you hear thunder, even if it seems far away, the storm is a few kilometers away, if not closer. In this case you are in danger, go immediately to a sheltered place.

In case of lightning, associated with thunderstorms

Combined with thunderstorms, lightning is one of the most fearsome dangers.
Most accidents caused by lightning occur outdoors: the mountain is the place most at risk, but so are all large and exposed places, such as a lawn or a soccer field, especially in the presence of water, such as the sea, beaches, piers, docks, outdoor swimming pools. In fact, there is a residual risk associated with lightning even indoors.

A thunderstorm cloud can give rise to lightning even without precipitation; moreover, lightning can strike several kilometers away from the center of the thunderstorm. So, even if there are no clouds over our heads, but we see or hear a thunderstorm nearby, we risk being the target of electrical discharges.

If a person is a victim of lightning, remember that their body does not remain electrically charged, so they can be rescued immediately, without any risk.
Outdoors

No place is safe outdoors, so the first thing to do is to quickly get indoors and wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder before restarting outdoor activities. If no building is available, seek shelter inside your car with doors and windows closed and the radio antenna down if possible.

In order to understand where electric discharges will strike most frequently, consider the shape of the objects, not the material they are made of.

Preferred targets are high places (trees, poles, pylons) or otherwise overhanging a lower surrounding (even a single person in a large, flat place, such as a lawn or a beach), and sharp objects (umbrella, fishing pole, etc.).

If you are forced to stay outdoors and do not have the possibility to quickly reach a safe shelter, move away from points that protrude significantly, such as poles or trees, and do not seek shelter there, especially if they are isolated and higher than the surrounding vegetation. Be sure to avoid being at the highest point in your surroundings.

Metallic objects do not attract lightning, so it is not dangerous to wear or hold small metal objects (watch, keys, necklaces, earrings, etc.). However, metal is a good conductor of electricity, so it is important to stay away from particularly large metal objects (nets or fences, railings, steps or bleachers, ropes or ladders, etc.). If a structure like these is struck by lightning, the metal can conduct current to the person in contact with it or in its immediate vicinity. For the same reason, you should stay away from water (by moving away from the shore of the sea or a lake) if a thunderstorm is coming. 

Particularly, if a storm is coming your way:

On the mountain

Immediately move to a lower altitude, avoiding staying on particularly high, exposed or pointed paths, such as ridges or peaks, keeping away from paths equipped with ropes and metal ladders and immediately stop any climbing on the wall. Reach quickly a path at lower altitudes, walking, if possible, along depressions in the terrain (hollows, valleys, ditches but beware of possible flooding in case of heavy rain).

If you are with other people, do not hold hands and walk at least 10 meters apart.

Seek shelter inside a building or, if reachable quickly, in a car. Less safe shelters, but useful in the absence of better alternatives, are caves, bivouacs or barns, as long as you keep away from the threshold and walls.

Once you reach a shelter, but even if you are forced to stay outdoors, keep your feet together, minimizing the point of contact with the ground, so as to reduce the intensity of the current that can cross your body. For the same reason, avoid sitting or, worse, lying on the ground. Still with your feet together, you can assume a squatting position, better if you place any insulating material between you and the ground.

Also in this case, stay as far away as possible from other people who are with you.

By the sea or lake

Avoid any contact or proximity with water: lightning, in fact, can cause serious damage even for indirect electrocution, due to the dispersion of the discharge that is transmitted up to a few tens of meters from the point affected. Therefore, get out of the water immediately and move away from the shore, as well as from the edge of an outdoor swimming pool; also remember that boats, canoes and pirogues, even if covered, do not protect in any way from lightning.

Quickly seek shelter inside a building or, if not possible, in a car, keeping in mind that in very large and flat places, such as beaches, you are more exposed.

Get rid of umbrellas, parasols, fishing rods and any other medium or large pointed objects.

Camping

During the storm, it is good to take shelter in a brick structure, such as the services of the campsite or, failing that, inside the car. It is not recommended to seek shelter in caravans or campers, unless they are made of sheet metal. If, on the other hand, you are in a tent and it is impossible for you to take shelter elsewhere:

• avoid touching metal structures and tent walls;
• avoid contact with metal objects connected to the electrical system (in any case, it is a good idea to disconnect electrical equipment);
• insulate yourself from the ground with any available insulating material.

At home

The risk of lightning is greatly reduced, however follow some simple rules during the storm, keeping in mind that a building is a safe place, provided that you do not come into contact with anything that can conduct electricity:

• avoid using equipment connected to the power grid and your landline phone. If you need to communicate, you can use your cell phone or cordless phone. Keep electrically powered appliances turned off (preferably by unplugging them), especially televisions, computers, and household appliances;
• do not touch metal items connected to the outdoors, such as pipes, cables, plumbing and electrical wiring;
• avoid contact with water (postpone until the end of the storm operations such as washing dishes or taking a shower, in most cases just be patient for one or two hours);
• do not stay under canopies, balconies, sheds, pavilions, gazebos and verandas that are not safe places. Instead, shelter inside the building by keeping a distance from doors and windows, making sure they are closed.
   

Outdoors

When conducting activities near a stream ( also a picnic) or when choosing an area for a camping:

• choose an area at a fair distance from the stream bed and adequately elevated above the level of the stream, far enough away from steep or unstable slopes: intense downpours of rain could trigger sudden ground movement.

In the city

The most typical criticalities are related to the inability of the sewer network to dispose of considerable quantities of water that fall to the ground in a short time with consequent sudden flooding of roads. For this reason:

• be careful when passing through underpasses, there is a risk of running into a vehicle that is semi-submerged or submerged in water;
• avoid going to or lingering in areas such as basements, lower floors, garages, are at high risk of flooding during intense downpours of rain.

If you are driving

• even in the event of flooding, the asphalt suddenly becomes slippery because of rain and this can be dangerous for drivers of vehicles or motorcycles, reducing both the road stability and the performance of the braking system;
• limit your speed or stop until the storm ends. A short stop in a parking area is sufficient. During the most intense phase of a storm, visibility is greatly reduced.

In the event of hail, the same instructions are valid as in the case of rainstorms, with regard to the consequences on the slippery state of the road surface and the severe reduction of visibility. The duration of a hailstorm is typically rather short.

Before

• It is important to have the necessary equipment for snow and ice: shovels and salt supplies are essential tools for your home or business.
• Pay attention to your car that, especially in winter, be equipped for snow and ice.
• Mount snow tires, recommended for those who travel in winter in areas with low temperatures, or carry snow chains on board, preferably quick mounting
• Do some trial fitting of the chains: it is better to learn how to use them first, rather than be unprepared under a heavy snowfall
• Check the antifreeze liquid in the radiator water
• Check the state of the battery and the efficiency of the windscreen wiper blades
• Don't forget to keep the cables for the forced ignition, pliers, flashlight and work gloves in the car

During

• Check the load-bearing capacity of your building's roof (home, shed or other structure). Accumulation of snow and ice on the roof could cause collapses.
• Take care to remove snow from your private access or driveway. Don't throw it into the street, it may obstruct snow plows. 
• If possible, avoid using your car when it snows and park it in the garage. Reducing the traffic and the number of vehicles parked on roads and public areas, will facilitate the snow removal operations.
• If you are forced to take the car follow these small rules:

• remove the snow from the car entirely and not just from the windows
• keep your lights on to make yourself more visible on the road
• maintain a low speed, using low gears to avoid braking as much as possible. Instead, prefer to use the engine brake
• avoid abrupt manoeuvres and sudden swerves
• accelerate smoothly and increase the safety distance from the vehicle in front of you
• remember that when driving uphill it is essential to proceed without stopping. Once stopped, it is difficult to restart and the forced parking of your car can hinder the transit of other vehicles
• park your car properly so that it does not hinder the work of snowploughs
• pay particular attention to the slabs of snow that, especially in the thaw phase, can be detached from the roofs
• do not use two-wheeled vehicles

After

• Remember that, after the snowfall, it is possible the formation of ice both on the roads and on the sidewalks. Pay attention to the road surface and drive with particular caution.
• If you move on foot choose your shoes carefully to avoid falls and slips and move with caution
• When winter comes, it is important to be informed about the evolution of the weather situation by listening to the local news or radio news.

In the presence or forecast of fog, it is advisable to avoid driving, or at least assess objectively the real need to travel by car. If possible, avoid driving and take the train.
In the presence of this meteorological phenomenon your safety is subject to conditions that depend not only on your behavior, but especially on other people's behavior. Technology has developed devices, some still experimental, capable of assisting or informing you while driving through fog. Nevertheless, don't rely exclusively on such devices. The risk of being involved in accidents remains due  to malfunctions or failure of the device to respond to abnormal situations.

While driving, it is recommended to:

• Decrease your speed, as objects that are normally well visible may also suddenly appear and you have no chance to avoid them. This is further aggravated by the condition of the road surface, which is usually quite slippery during fog. With fog, it also becomes much more difficult to determine the speed difference with the vehicle in front of you.
• Keep your speed low: you must be able to perceive in time the presence of an obstacle and stop the vehicle if necessary.
•  Respect the indications on the light panels and on the signs you find along the road. In particular, observe speed restrictions, which may vary according to the visibility.
•  Increase your safety distance. If you are following a vehicle in fog, you should not focus only on its speed and try to "keep up" thinking that the person in front of you has better visibility than you. It is always advisable to keep your speed according to the recommendations on the variable message signs and, above all, to drive safely. If the vehicle in front of you is apparently proceeding at a speed you are not comfortable with, slow down and drive with prudence.
•  When fog is present, even during the day, turn on your low beams, fog lamps and rear fog lights, not your high beams.
• In fog, the most important thing is to see and to be seen. Powerful, concentrated light such as high beams is completely counterproductive, since the fog reflects it, creating a sort of "wall of light" and further reducing the already low visibility.
• The fog lamps are mounted lower than the low beam headlights and are designed to have a very low emission upwards, so as to project their light beam towards the ground, where the fog is sparser or disappears. Front fog lights are excellent for improving the visibility of road markings (road dividing strips or side markings), but may be inefficient for viewing obstacles on the road, such as other vehicles.
• Keep your rear fog lights on at all times to allow others to see your vehicle.
•  Focus your attention. When driving a long stretch of road without traffic in dense fog, the eye tends to focus on a "resting" distance of about three meters: keep your attention far ahead.
• Avoid overtaking on two-way roads. You must avoid overtaking other vehicles when driving on two-way roads without a central reservation. In foggy weather, a vehicle coming onto the opposite carriageway is only visible from a short distance.
• If you need to stop, do so off the road, slowing down gradually. Activate the light signal of danger (simultaneous direction indicators) and keep the rear fog lights on. If it is an emergency stop, follow the proper precautions.
•  Do not drive on the side strip of the roadway. The risk of hitting another vehicle like a motorcycle or parked car is very high.
• Stay aware of the situation. If you are traveling along a major road or highway, it is a good idea to keep the radio tuned to traffic information. In this way it is possible to become aware of any sections affected by reduced visibility or queues, and possibly choose an alternative route.

All’aperto

• evita le zone esposte, guadagnando una posizione riparata rispetto al possibile distacco di oggetti esposti o sospesi e alla conseguente caduta di oggetti anche di piccole dimensioni e relativamente leggeri, come un vaso o una tegola;
• evita con particolare attenzione le aree verdi e le strade alberate. L’infortunio più frequente associato alle raffiche di vento riguarda proprio la rottura di rami, anche di grandi dimensioni, che possono sia colpire direttamente la popolazione che cadere ed occupare pericolosamente le strade, creando un serio rischio anche per motociclisti ed automobilisti.

In the city

• if you are driving a car or a motorcycle pay particular attention because the wind gusts cause the vehicle to skid, thus requiring you to slow down or stop;
• pay particular attention to exposed road sections, such as those at the exit of tunnels and viaducts; the vehicles most exposed to danger are vans, trucks and caravans, which expose a large area to gusts and can be moved by the wind, even when the intensity does not reach high peaks.

Generally, all the mobile structures are particularly at risk, especially those that provide for the presence of curtains or awnings, such as scaffoldings, gazebos, temporary outdoor exhibition or commercial structures, whose tightness and insurance must be tested.

In coastal areas

In coastal areas, strong winds are associated with the risk of storm surges, especially if the wind comes along the coast. For this reason

• be very careful when moving closer to the coast or when driving along coastal roads;
• avoid stopping on coastal roads and even more so on piers and jetties;
• avoid bathing and the use of boats and secure in advance the boats and structures present on the beaches and in the port areas.

At home

• secure all objects in your home or workplace that are located in open areas exposed to the effects of wind and are at risk of being swept away by the gusts (pots and other objects on windowsills or balconies, antennas or roofing/roof coverings installed in a precarious position, etc.).

Heat can cause health problems by altering the body's temperature regulation system. Normally the body cools down by sweating, but under certain environmental conditions this mechanism is not sufficient. If, the humidity rate is very high, sweat evaporates slowly and the body does not cool down efficiently so the temperature can rise and damage vital organs. The ability of a person to self-regulate temperature is affected by factors such as age, health conditions, and medical treatment. The subjects at risk are: the elderly or not self-sufficient, people who regularly assume medications, infants and young children, people doing physical exercise or intense work outdoors.

For this reason, during the days in which there is a high risk of heat waves and for the next 24 or 36 hours we recommend that you follow these simple rules of conduct:

• do not go out during the hottest hours, from 12 to 18, particularly for the elderly, very young children, people who are not self-sufficient or convalescent;
• at home, protect yourself from the heat of the sun with curtains or blinds and keep the air conditioning at 25-27 degrees. Do not point the fan straight at your body;
• drink and eat plenty of fruit and avoid alcoholic beverages and caffeine. In general, eat light meals.
• Wear light, light-colored clothing and hats outdoors, and avoid synthetic fibers. If you have a ill person in the house with you, make sure they are not over-covered.

To save water

• provide taps with water-saving breakers;
• Check for leaks. If the counter is spinning with all taps closed, call a professional company that can check for faults or leaks in the pipe and plumbing;
• do not let the tap water run unnecessarily, turn it on only when necessary, for example while brushing your teeth or shaving your beard;
• do not use tap water to wash fruit and vegetables: simply leave them to soak with a pinch of bicarbonate;
• when possible, reuse the water: the water used to cook pasta to remove grease from dishes, the water used to wash fruits and vegetables to water plants and flowers;
• use washing machines or dishwashers, if possible at night, only when fully loaded, and remember to switch on the economy program if there are only a few items of laundry or dishes to be washed;
• use two-course tanks, in the toilets; it saves about 60% of the water currently used with fixed and high volume tanks;
• prefer showers to baths: it is faster and reduces consumption;
• when you go on vacation or are away from home for long periods, turn off the central water tap;
• do not use drinking water to wash cars.

In case of interruption of the water supply

• before the interruption, make a minimum stock of water for the bathroom and kitchen and stock up on plates, cutlery, plastic cups, cotton and denatured alcohol;
• turn off the electric water heater and turn it back on after the power is restored to avoid damage to the heating elements;
• as soon as the water supply is restored avoid using the washing machine, dishwasher and water heater until the water supply returns to normal because the water may be dirty.

The strong wind gusts associated with a cyclone can cause the fall of objects and structures, even large ones, and break branches, windows and storefronts. There may also occur violent storm surges and rapid sea level rise.
Before, during and after the event follow the indications of the local authorities and keep yourself constantly informed through internet, radio and TV.

Here you will find some general rules of conduct.

Outdoors

• Move away from the coast and go to higher areas to take shelter in a building.
• If you are in a car, pay special attention because gusts of wind may cause the vehicle to swerve. Slow down and drive to the nearest safe place - preferably a building - avoiding to stop under bridges, overpasses, structures and objects that could fall (such as street lamps, scaffolding, etc.).
• Disconnection of electrical cables is possible. If you are in a car and get struck, remain inside the vehicle and wait for help.
• Limit the use of mobile phones. Keep the lines free to facilitate rescue.

At home

• Do not go outside at all, neither to secure property nor vehicles.
• Close doors, windows and shutters.
• Take shelter in the house's innermost room or hallway, as far away from doors and windows as possible.
• Abandon basements and ground floors and move upstairs.
• If possible, avoid sheltering on the top floor. Strong gusts of wind may damage the roofs of vulnerable buildings.
• Put extra protection in front of windows and glass if possible.
• Keep pets inside the house.
• Shut off the gas and turn off the electrical switchboard if your systems are on lower floors.
• If you live in a mobile home (caravan, prefab, camping) seek shelter in a secure building.
• Keep close to you: documents, essential medications, batteries, flashlight, battery-powered radio, cell phone, bottled water.
• Limit use of mobile phone. Keep lines clear makes rescue easier.
• Even if the phenomenon seems to be decreasing, do not leave the house and wait for the instructions of the authorities.