Set the alarm for 5:36 a.m.

Web alarm clock for 5:36 a.m.

As you hand over the job of accompanying the children across a flooded street, set the 5:36 am alarm for the person taking your place. That leaves enough time to explain which stretch is passable, where the water runs deeper, and who is carrying each bag before 6:00 am. A clear handover helps the next adult leave without having to reconstruct the plan at the doorway.

With rain striking the roof, electric fans running, or neighbours already moving about, check that your phone volume is high enough for the alarm to stand out from the background noise. Keep it nearby and choose a tone that differs from the sounds around you. The alarm will not signal for the flooded-street handover if this browser page is closed or the phone falls asleep, so use a separate phone alarm when missing 5:36 am would leave nobody ready to accompany the children.

Because other people in the house may still be asleep this early, agree beforehand who needs to hear the signal. Place the phone close to that person instead of raising the volume across the whole room, and prepare umbrellas, slippers, raincoats, and school bags the night before. At 5:36 am, you can then speak quietly, pass on the route details, and avoid waking everyone while the household gets ready for the flooded crossing.