Emergency Storm & Flood Preparation: The Ultimate Household Safety Checklist

In October 2021, Hyderabad received 20 cm of rain in a single day — roughly a month's worth in 24 hours. The people whose homes were flooded weren't caught off guard because of a lack of warnings. Most of them had seen the warnings. They just weren't prepared for what to actually do. Emergency preparation happens before the storm, not during it, and it requires being specific rather than vague about what you're setting up.

Here's a practical household checklist based on what actually matters during the kinds of floods and storms that affect Indian cities.

Before the Season Starts

The most important physical thing you can do is deal with your home's drainage before the first major rain. Clean out the terrace drain points — they clog with leaves and debris and then create ponding that can eventually leak through the roof structure. If you live in a ground-floor flat, identify whether your building's perimeter drain flows away from the building or toward it. This sounds obvious, but I've seen ground floor residents discover the answer for the first time during a flood.

Check your windows and external doors for gaps. During a severe storm with wind-driven rain, water finds its way in through surprisingly small openings. A tube of waterproof sealant applied in May is worth a lot more than trying to manage an active leak at 2 AM during a cyclone.

If you have a generator, service it before storm season. If you don't have one and rely on power-dependent equipment (medical devices, refrigerated medications), know your nearest power backup option.

Your Emergency Kit — What to Actually Put In It

Store this somewhere elevated and accessible — not in a ground-floor storage room that could get waterlogged. Keep it in a waterproof bag or container if possible.

Water is non-negotiable: 3 litres per person per day for at least three days. Floods contaminate tap water — this is not hypothetical. Non-perishable food that doesn't require cooking: dry roasted chana, glucose biscuits, dry fruits, packaged upma or poha, canned goods, peanut butter. If you have infants: formula, and enough for five days not three.

Medications: at least two weeks of any regular prescription medicine, ORS sachets, paracetamol, antihistamines, a basic first aid kit with antiseptic. Don't assume you'll be able to get to a pharmacy after a serious flood — roads are often impassable for 2–4 days.

Power: fully charged power banks (more than one if you have multiple family members), a hand-cranked or battery radio, a good torch with spare batteries, a small solar charger if you can afford one.

Documents: keep photocopies (or phone photos backed to cloud) of Aadhaar, property papers, insurance documents, prescriptions. Physical originals in a sealed waterproof bag.

During a Storm or Flood Warning

When a red or orange alert is issued for your district, turn off the main circuit breaker if water is entering your lower floor. Water and electricity kill — this is the rule that saves lives. Don't wade through floodwater to reach your vehicle or valuables. Floodwater in urban areas contains sewage, chemical runoff, and may have open manholes or submerged electrical cables that you can't see.

If you're in a vulnerable area (low-lying, near a nullah or river bank), evacuate early — not when it's already flooding but when the alert is issued. Waiting until the last moment is how people die in floods that kill very few. Know your nearest designated relief shelter; in most Indian municipalities this is typically the nearest government school or community hall.

Tell someone outside your immediate area where you are and that you're safe. Mobile networks often get overloaded during major storms — a brief text message uses less bandwidth than a call and is more likely to go through.

Preparation isn't pessimism. It's the difference between a bad few days and a dangerous few days.