Emergency kit for flooding in Flanders, disaster or nuclear war

Emergency kit against flooding in Flanders and the Netherlands in case of severe weather, cloudburst, hybrid attack or nuclear war in the North Sea with Russian nuclear torpedo Poseidon.

Flooding is one of the reasons why the government advises the population to have an emergency kit. There are different causes of floods and there are different types of emergency kits. Insight offers you more chances to survive.

Severe Weather

Severe weather such as storms or heavy rainfall can cause naturally flood-prone areas to fill with water. This type of severe weather causes annual flooding in certain areas, especially along waterways. The water does not rise higher than 1 to 2 meters. The ground floor of buildings is then uninhabitable. Those living on the ground floor and having no other means of getting to higher ground should ideally have a waterproof dry-sack emergency backpack that can be quickly taken to flee, or if you can go to neighbors, a 90L waterproof emergency box with a 72-hour emergency kit or a 130L waterproof emergency box for families with survival contents is a better solution.

Hybrid attack or sabotage

A hybrid attack or sabotage on the sluices and pumps would have a similar effect to flooding during a storm or heavy rainfall. This problem is particularly relevant in the Netherlands, as its complex of sluices and pumps is computer-controlled, and the reclaimed land area is much larger than in Belgium. During the First World War, the Yser basin in Belgium was inundated, and in 2022, a former sluice master committed an act of sabotage that could have submerged a large part of the coast up to 2 meters. The consequences for the coast could have been the same as severe weather with heavy storms or heavy rainfall. A hybrid attack on the sluice complex in Flanders is a realistic scenario in these times of geopolitical tension.

Cloudburst

A cloudburst is a natural phenomenon where more than 100 liters of water per square meter falls in 24 hours, leading to a larger area being submerged. Due to global warming, this natural phenomenon occurs more frequently, including the cloudburst of July 2021 that severely affected Belgium and Germany. In the event of a cloudburst, mainly the low-lying areas in Flanders would be severely affected because the water cannot drain away fast enough there. Here, East Flanders, particularly the region around Ghent, is very susceptible to flooding. The water level would not exceed 1 to 2 meters. Those living on the ground floor and having no other means of getting to higher ground should ideally have a waterproof dry-sack emergency backpack that can be quickly taken to flee, or if you can go to neighbors, a 90L waterproof emergency box with a 72-hour emergency kit or a 130L waterproof emergency box for families with survival contents is a better solution.

Nuclear war with nuclear torpedo Poseidon

The Russian nuclear torpedo Poseidon is one of the latest new Russian nuclear weapons. It is a 24 m long torpedo with a diameter of 2 m and is launched from the nuclear submarine Belgorod K-329, but smaller submarines are also being equipped with these Poseidon torpedoes. The nuclear torpedo aims to sink a port city or aircraft carrier but can also cause a radioactive tsunami. It is assumed that the Poseidon torpedo has a 2-megaton nuclear warhead and could cause a tidal wave up to 300 m high. Given that the North Sea off the Belgian coast is only around 50 meters deep at its deepest points, a nuclear tsunami in the North Sea would cause a tidal wave not much higher than 50 meters.

The most suitable location for a Russian attack would be somewhere off the coast of Blankenberge, allowing the tidal wave to spread along the entire Belgian coast, through Zeeland which would disappear completely underwater, to East Flanders and via the Westerschelde to Antwerp. This tidal wave could cause unprecedented flooding.

The Russians have already threatened to attack the Netherlands and also England with a nuclear torpedo. An attack off the coast of the Netherlands would therefore also have consequences for the Belgian coast with a small tidal wave.

- North Sea - Western Scheldt

- Flooded area

- Areas higher than 20 meters above sea level.

A 50-meter-high tidal wave would, of course, wash away the entire coast, but the further it inundated inland, the weaker and lower the tidal wave would become. When we look at the topographical map of Flanders, we can get an impression of which low-lying areas could be flooded.

How strong the radioactivity of the seawater would be is not yet clear, nor where the nuclear fallout from a 2-megaton nuclear explosion would end up. If one were to only consider the risk of flooding, an evacuation plan could already be drawn up, and victims could gain insight into the cities that might remain dry in higher-lying areas.

Surviving flooding on the coast.

A 50-meter-high tidal wave could hit the coast. In apartments affected by a tidal wave, air pockets could form in the corridors where one could survive for a long time. A wetsuit or surf suit can protect against hypothermia. For the rest, prepare to run to the highest floor as quickly as possible, hoping that the tidal wave might not be so high after all. The emergency backpack must be easy to handle, not too heavy, and contain basic goods to survive for 72 hours.

What to bring

Extra pouches to attach to the waterproof dry-sack backpack. In the extra pouches, you put items you might immediately need to survive without having to open your dry-sack if you're standing in water up to your waist, such as: diving goggles, waterproof lamp, light sticks, rescue knife, emergency water sachets, emergency whistle, energy gel, 9mm rope.

In the dry-sack, you put: fresh underwear and dry clothing, towel, small toiletry bag for washing, small first aid kit, food and drink to survive three nights, sleeping bag or blanket, personal belongings, medicines, spare keys for later, copy of ID card, emergency numbers, power bank, spare mobile phone, Emergency radio, list of important phone numbers.

Survive in the highest apartments.

The further inland the tidal wave floods, the lower it will become, with the higher apartments remaining above water first. One emergency backpack per person would then be the best solution for quick escape to the upper floors of the tallest apartment buildings. A small number of people who can take shelter in a high apartment in time can survive the flood. The emergency kit is limited by the maximum weight a person can carry easily. Use waterproof bags or dry-sacks to keep your most important items dry.

Surviving in the attic

The further inland, the lower the tidal wave would become. In this scenario, a larger number of people could survive in the attic or on the first floor of their homes. The emergency kit would then be most practical if stored in a waterproof container or barrel.

A waterproof box or barrel keeps your emergency kit dry and floats if the water gets too high.

A waterproof plastic box can have a capacity of 90 to 130 liters and has wheels on one side for dragging. The plastic box is more suitable for storing an emergency kit for multiple people.

Surviving shallow flooding

If the flood is no deeper than 1 meter, one can get to safety and seek shelter at the nearest aid station. A waterproof backpack is then the best solution.

What to bring

Waterproof dry-sack or large backpack with small dry-sacks inside, fresh underwear and dry clothing, towel, toiletry bag for washing, small first aid kit, food and drink to survive one night, sleeping bag or blanket and insulating mat to sleep on in a shelter, personal belongings, medicines, spare keys for later, copy of ID card, emergency numbers, mobile charger or power bank, emergency whistle, bright flashlight, list of important phone numbers.

Navy Seals tactical waterproof dry-sack 35 liter backpack emergency kit.

Dry-sack 35L empty emergency backpack

Dry-sack 35L emergency backpack emergency kit

The Dry-sack backpack 35 liters is a waterproof top-loader backpack made of robust PVC material with a roll closure that protects the contents from splash water and short immersion. This Dry-sack can float and be used as a life buoy, and also as an emergency backpack with an emergency kit. In the event of a flood where one has to go through water, this is the ideal emergency backpack for the sea or rivers, protecting the contents from splash water or short immersion.

Military combat backpack with 65-liter capacity emergency kit with sleeping bag

Large emergency backpack with space for sleeping bag

The Belgian recommendations for an emergency kit in a backpack are all possible and fit in a small 20-liter backpack or medium 36-liter backpack. European recommendations go a bit further and also advise a sleeping bag. As soon as you want to take a sleeping bag in your emergency backpack, you need a larger 65L backpack. In the upper part of this backpack, there is space for a sleeping bag, and at the top, there are attachment straps to secure an insulating mat. If one has to evacuate to the attic or the highest floor of an apartment building, it's better to have a sleeping bag or blanket. Additional pouches can also be attached to a military combat backpack.