Natural disasters strike — how to stay safe outdoors

       Recently, a video of an outdoor enthusiast crossing a mudslide zone who ultimately lost their life shocked netizens on Weibo. The recently passed Typhoon Haikui gave residents in the Yangtze River Delta a firsthand taste of the power of a typhoon. When traveling outdoors and encountering natural disasters, knowing how to stay safe and escape should be second nature to every traveler and outdoor enthusiast. No matter how brilliant one’s life may be, it can’t be relived. For this reason, we interviewed Xiao Jian, a professional team leader from an outdoor club.

       One evening in June, in Wenzhou’s Nanxi River, Xiao Jian’s team encountered heavy rain. In the canyon, the water rose quickly, and before long, everything around was flooded with no place to take shelter. The team found a large rock, so everyone climbed onto it. The rock had enough space for all members, and there was even room left to set up a tent. That night, the female team members took shelter under the tent, while the male members stayed outside. Fortunately, by morning, the water had completely receded.

       If traveling in mountainous areas during July and August, it's important to do your homework in advance, pay attention to local weather forecasts, and adjust your schedule if heavy rain is expected.

       When setting up camp, choose a flat area upstream from rivers. Don’t camp near rivers, downstream, or on slopes, as rapidly rising water levels after rain can be dangerous.

       If you encounter heavy rain at the start of your trip, cancel the activity. If there’s no shelter in the mountains and you’re close to the campsite, head back to camp and set up there. If you’re hiking and heavy rain starts but you’re still far from the camp, set up a tent to wait out the rain, then continue when it lets up. Be flexible in the face of heavy rain.

       If you encounter heavy rain while traveling in the mountains, descend as quickly as possible. Avoid areas prone to landslides, and never take shelter in gullies to avoid being hit by flash floods or mudslides that could cause injury or death.

       Flash floods are more likely to occur in canyons. Before every trip, Xiao Jian consults local guides first. If the local weather or natural conditions pose risks, he firmly cancels the plan. To prevent flash floods, the team takes protective measures: securing ropes on rocks or trees on both sides of the river, using slings to create makeshift harnesses, and clipping themselves to the main rope with quickdraws. This way, team members won’t be swept away by the rapid current.

       When avoiding flash floods or mudslides, move to higher ground on either side of the gully and walk upward along the mountain’s drainage channel. Never escape downstream along the gully.

       If caught in a flash flood while driving, quickly drive to higher ground and avoid landslides, falling rocks, and mudslides.

       If trapped in the mountains by a flash flood, seek rest on high flat ground or in caves far from the flood path. Use communication devices to send distress signals and wait for rescue. Without communication tools, light a fire using branches and other flammable materials, and place some damp branches or green grass next to the fire to create thick smoke that can attract rescuers.
       Mudslides

       Once on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, Xiao Jian and his team witnessed a mudslide while traveling. They later learned that two cyclists ahead had been swept away by the mudslide. After seeing this, Xiao Jian immediately led the entire group to move to open areas away from collapsed mountain slopes.

       Safety Measures

       During a mudslide, if you’re driving, don’t listen to music as it can affect your judgment. If you’re hiking through mountainous areas, don’t wear any hats as they can obstruct your vision.

       If a landslide occurs while you’re on the slope, crouching under a large rock is relatively safe. Large rocks can block falling debris from above, reducing the chance of injury, though small rocks may still fall, so it’s not 100% safe. Alternatively, take shelter in dense woods, as falling rocks will slow down upon hitting trees, reducing damage and making it much safer than open, barren areas.

       To prevent injury from flying rocks, protect your head immediately by wrapping it with clothing or other materials nearby.

       Typhoons

       In the mountains, Xiao Jian once encountered a not-so-severe typhoon. To stay away from mountain slopes and avoid falling rocks, he led the team along the guardrail on the other side of the road.

       When a typhoon strikes, never run uphill because the higher you go, the stronger the wind becomes, and there’s less vegetation to block it.

       If you’re in a forest, choose a relatively open and central area to take shelter. Even if trees are knocked down, the outermost ones with the largest surface area will fall first, making those in the middle relatively safer. Observe the outer edges before moving. Also, avoid the tallest trees and don’t stand under trees at the edge of the forest, as there’s nothing to block them and they may fall directly, causing injury.

       Shortly after a strong typhoon passes, stay indoors or in your original shelter. The eye of the typhoon brings temporary calm, but don’t assume the storm is over. This calm usually lasts less than an hour before the wind returns with even greater force from the opposite direction. If you’re outdoors, move to the opposite side of your previous shelter.

       If caught off guard by a typhoon and there’s no time to run, take shelter in a deep cave, but avoid standing at the cave entrance, as shallow openings can create crosswinds and pose safety hazards.