How to communicate efficiently in flood situation?

Nepal is one of the most prone country for flood and landslides. Recent heavy rain has made a huge impact in the terai area, including loss of life, physical structures. The unabated rain made the flood sweep away several homes and the water even entered inside people homes. People are bound to live in temporary places in different areas with no electricity and food. Government officials are doing their best to rescue and support the affected people.

Communication is one of the tools that helps the rescue and support effort to reach all of the affected. In these situation, mobile phone is the only mean to rely on for communication. As mobile network also seems affected with the flood and no electricity, the communication is also not good with less or no coverage or congestion (no sufficient channels). Mobile phones also help to look for stuffs and way in crisis of no electricity.

In this post we are trying to present the best efficient way to use your phone for communication and more.

• Use messaging, unless its urgent for voice call or make it short to leave voice channels for others due to congestion.
• Save battery power, by putting it in airplane mode, when you are not using it or coverage is not there.
• Decrease the phone screen brightness, as it takes a lot of battery power.
• Delete or disable the unwanted apps that take more power or data.
• Check if sufficient balance is there in your phone. Recharge pre-hand or Ask your friends to send some balance before. Ncell Sapati comes handy in those situation. Mobile with balance less than Rs 5 can get Sapati of Rs 40 by dialing *9988#. Read more here.
• Look for charging connection or backup power (even battery bank).
• If WiFi or other data network is available, use it to send your situation to other people. Social medias are much better to relay the information. Ask some popular pages to relay the information in case you need more attention.
• Be updated with the flood alert and other SMS to your phone from the responsible departments like department of meteorology and hydrology.
• Government officials like Nepal Police, Nepal Army, even Hello Sarkar can help you if you are dire need of rescue or support. Contacting them in social medias also work. Make sure you provide enough information.
• Save your phone from drowning, wrap your phone inside a new plastic (multiple layer) in case to save from rain or flood water.
• If your phone is out of battery, use another backup medium for regular information. FM radio helps a lot in this general news from the officials.
• As water has already entered inside your home, check if the electricity is short circuit or leaked to the water. Switch off the mains if you suspect the leak or short circuit. You won’t know later when the electricity comes later and the leak could shock or damage your phone while charging.
• Phone can also be use as a torch, but use it only when it is urgent as it drains battery fast. Or use a separate torch.

These are some of the electronic means to help people for communication or other using phone. Please spread the message to the people in the flood areas.