Education

[ Source: Hong Kong Red Cross ]

What Natural Disasters Do Hong Kong People Face?


Preparing for Disasters: Why?

In Hong Kong and abroad, natural disasters can strike at any time. If you are unprepared for a disaster, you may feel confounded and suffer greater damages and losses. Although we cannot prevent the occurrence of natural disasters, raising awareness of disaster prevention can help us act safely during emergencies and ensure our survival.

When you are in Hong Kong

When you are abroad

Rainstorm and Flash Flood

When a rainstorm occurs, the water levels of brooks, man-made or natural channels, stormwater channels or drainage ways may rise rapidly within a very short period of time, resulting in river overflow that may intensify to a flash flood causing casualties and losses.

Precautions

  • During a rainstorm, you should stay at home or move to a safe area. Those outdoors should go indoors as soon as possible.
  • Stay away from waterways and move to high ground quickly. Do not seek shelter from the rain under a bridge or attempt to cross a bridge that has been flooded.
  • Keep away from stormwater drainage facilities.
  • Torrential flow of rapid water with mud and sand is a sign of a flash flood. Keep away from the waterway immediately.
  • If you unfortunately fall into a rapidly flowing river, you should firmly grasp onto or embrace a boulder, tree trunk or vine, etc., along the riverbank and try to crawl back onto land and wait for rescue.
  • Do not walk along a brook or waterway especially during bouts of rain or after a rainstorm.
  • Never walk into a stormwater culvert.
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Thunderstorm and Thunderbolt

A thunderstorm is a common weather phenomenon characterized by lightning and thunder. A thunderbolt is an electric discharge phenomenon that occurs in thunderclouds characterized by thunder, flash and lightning.

Precautions

  • On thundery, stormy days, stay indoors. Keep away from doors and windows. Avoid using the telephone, mobile phone and plugged-in electrical appliances as much as possible.
  • Stop swimming and all other aquatic activities.
  • To avoid being struck by a thunderbolt, do not use an umbrella, raise a rod or use a mobile phone in an outdoor open space.
  • Stay away from antennae, metal faucets, metal pipes, wire meshes and all other conductors of electrical charge.
  • Do not stay in an outdoor open space. Do not seek shelter from the rain under an isolated tree. Do not stay near a river, a brook or a low-lying area.
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Typhoon or Hurricane

A typhoon or hurricane usually affects coastal areas and can be very destructive as it may generate a heavy rainstorm and strong winds and cause huge waves and flooding.

Precautions

  • Listen to the radio and follow TV reports on typhoons or hurricanes.
  • Keep away from coasts, beaches, low-lying areas and brook channels. Stop all aquatic activities.
  • Stay indoors and keep away from glass doors and windows.
  • Quickly evacuate to a safe area from any building that is not sturdy, such as a wooden hut or a mobile home.
  • If you are outdoors, quickly seek shelter in the lower level of a sturdy building.
  • If you are in a car, leave the car immediately. Keep away from trees, electric receptacles and brook channels. Seek safe shelter.
  • Do not seek shelter in a basement since you could become trapped by flooding.
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Flood

After a rainstorm, floods are likely to occur in low-lying coastal areas or where the drainage system is poor.

Precautions

  • Keep the environment clean to ensure the free flow of channels and canal systems.
  • When flooding is likely to occur, you should move valuables and electrical appliances to a higher elevation to reduce losses.
  • Put important identification documents in a waterproof plastic bag in advance so they will not get wet during a flood. The bag also makes it easier to locate and carry the documents during escape.
  • If flooding is likely occur where you are, immediately move to high ground or a safe area for temporary stay.
  • Residents living in areas that are prone to floods, such as low-lying and coastal areas, should plan an escape route in advance.
  • Prepare life-saving apparatus such as a life jacket, life buoy and lifeboat, etc., to be used during an emergency.
  • Be careful of snakes, insects, and hazardous articles in floodwaters.
  • Do not wade across a torrential channel and risk the chance of being swept away.

After a flood:

  • Beware of any electric shock.
  • Beware of the risk of collapse when the house structure is damaged.
  • Beware of being bitten by animals, snakes or insects.
  • Beware of infection due to contaminated drinking water.
  • Beware of another flood due to continuous rain.
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Mudslide or Landslide

When a rainstorm occurs, rainwater penetrates and loosens the soil on slopes. Rocks and mud form unstable slopes and dilapidated retaining walls on riverbanks may glide, causing a mudslide or landslide.

Precautions
Before the rainy season:

  • Check the outlet drains near slopes and close to your home. Together with your neighbours, clean up the environment and keep waterways unobstructed.
  • Check the surface of slopes and ensure that retaining walls and slopes are in stable condition.
  • Routine repairs should be conducted on slopes and examined at least annually and by a geotechnical engineer every 5 years. If necessary, appropriate maintenance schedules should be developed.

During a rainstorm:

  • Stay indoors where possible.
  • In the case of a mudslide or landslide, escape from its path as soon as possible and run to high ground.
  • If the nearby slope has a risk of collapse, get away from the slope, run to safety immediately, and report the risk to the police.
  • Avoid approaching or staying on a slope or beneath a retaining wall.
  • Drivers should avoid driving through mountainous slope areas.
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Bushfire

A bushfire will not only destroy vast areas of land and threaten nature but it can also cause casualties and property loss.

Precautions

  • When making a fire, be sure to make it at a designated barbecue or campfire spot. Put out the fire thoroughly with water upon departure.
  • Before leaving the spot, be sure to extinguish burning ashes, cigarettes and matches, etc., completely before discarding them into the pit.

Methods of safe escape

  • If a mountain fire is noticed, report it to the police immediately. It is a very difficult to estimate the spreading rate of fire.
  • Identify the direction where the fire is spreading, i.e., the direction where smoke is being blown towards. Avoid walking towards the same direction in which a bushfire is spreading.
  • When escaping from a bushfire, run to a nearby place with less vegetation, sparse weeds, a flat terrain or along a mountain path.
  • When a bushfire approaches and there is no way out, wrap your exposed skin with wet clothes and run to an area that has already been burned by the fire. This can reduce the chances of injury.
  • Never walk up the mountain as this will consume physical strength.
  • Never walk into dense shrub or underbrush because the fire may spread very quickly there.
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Tornado

A tornado is a funnel cloud that cones from a cumulonimbus with an accompanying strong whirlwind which has a very strong suction. When the whirlwind reaches the ground, it can suck dust on the ground into the air to create a dust column. It can also suck buildings, humans and animals into the air from the ground and cause great damage to them. A tornado is highly destructive.

Precautions

  • Stay indoors. Keep away from glass, doors and windows. Preferably stay in a lower floor of a sturdy building, such as a basement.
  • If you are indoors and the building is sturdy and resistant to strong winds, you should stay in a small room or a closed chamber.
  • Evacuate quickly to safety from any building that is not firm enough, such as a wooden hut or a mobile home.
  • If you are outdoors, quickly seek shelter in the lower level of a sturdy building.
  • If you are in a car, leave the car immediately. Seek shelter in the lower level of a sturdy building.
  • If there is no safe place for shelter, walk in the opposite direction to the tornado. Find a low-lying place quickly, such as a ditch. Lie on the ground and protect your head and neck with your hands.
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Earthquake

An earthquake can hardly be predicted accurately. A strong earthquake is frequently accompanied by a number of aftershocks. In addition to casualties and collapsed houses, an earthquake can also trigger fire, gas explosions, landslides, tsunamis, ground cracks, epidemics or other disasters, causing greater damage.

Precautions
If you encounter an earthquake, select a protection method quickly depending on your situation:

  • If you are indoors and far from an exit, you should hide in a kitchen, bathroom or any place with a small space and a firm structure. You can also hide beside a piece of large, sturdy furniture. Protect your head with a quilt or thick clothes, etc. Never jump from the building, which is a major cause of casualties from an earthquake.
  • If you are outdoors, you should try to escape to an open space and keep away from tall buildings, big trees, flyovers, elevated motorways, electricity poles, etc., to avoid injury. You should not cross a bridge since you might be injured if the bridge collapses.
  • If you are buried under rubble and cannot get out, never shout loudly. Instead, you should seek help by knocking or whistling in order to preserve your physical strength while waiting for rescue.
  • After an earthquake, beware of any electrical current from broken lines or a gas leak in order to avoid an electric shock or fire.
  • When you are assisting in a rescue, you are advised to rescue the lightly injured near to the surface of debris first in order to expand the rescue team. However, sharp tools should not be used for excavation so as not to injure those who may be trapped.
  • Do not re-enter a building immediately because an aftershock may occur and the building may collapse.
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Tsunami

A tsunami is usually caused by an underwater earthquake or volcanic eruption. An intense underwater earthquake may affect coastal areas that are tens of thousands of kilometres away and can result in vast casualties and property loss. Therefore, if people living along coastal areas feel an earthquake, they should prepare for a tsunami to follow.

Precautions

  • Listen to the radio and follow TV reports on a tsunami.
  • Pay attention to tsunami alerts (if any).
  • After an earthquake, keep away from coasts, beaches and coastal low-lying areas. Stop all aquatic activities. Stay on high ground or an upper floor of a firm building for temporary shelter.
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Volcanic Eruption

Volcanic eruptions happen when lava and gas are discharged from a volcanic vent on the Earth’s surface. Volcanic eruptions can hurl hot lava and rocks. Lava flood, airborne ash and noxious fumes can travel 160 kilometres or more.

Precautions

  • Pay attention to volcanic eruption alerts/warnings (if any), and evacuate in advance.
  • Prepare a pair of goggles and a disposable breathing mask.

During volcanic eruptions

  • Stay inside and close all windows, doors and chimneys, and turn off the stove and oven.
  • Avoid areas downwind of the volcano and get to high ground.
  • Avoid driving when ash is falling heavily as driving will stir up more ash that may congest traffic.
  • Stay away from falling volcanic ash and cover your mouth and nose.

After volcanic eruptions

  • Clear roofs of fallen ash as ash is very heavy and can cause buildings to collapse.
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Snowstorm

A snowstorm may cause frostbite or death to humans and animals, house collapse and other serious damage. A person suffering from frostbite may need amputation of the affected body part.

Precautions

  • When going to a snow-covered site, be sure to know the geographic locations of outdoor activity in advance (e.g., roads and rivers).
  • Wear clothes that are sufficient to keep you warm, and avoid walking alone.
  • Wear snow goggles to protect your eyes from ultraviolet radiation. If you don’t have dark sunglasses, you may use a strip of cloth for protection. Create a slit or a cross for each eye on the cloth and bind the cloth onto your head to protect your eyes.
  • Once you encounter a snowstorm in an open space, be sure to hide in a lee. You can use colourful clothes or a reflecting object to give an SOS signal in the daytime. At night you should reduce activity to avoid exhaustion and wasting physical strength, but do not fall asleep.
  • In the case of frostbite, change into dry clothes immediately. Never rub the affected part. Keep it warm with down clothing or a thick coat, and seek medical attention as soon as possible.
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