CLEANING UP AFTER A FLOOD
Flood waters must be assumed to be contaminated with disease bacteria. When sewage treatment plants are flooded they are sometimes forced to pass raw sewage directly into flooded streams and rivers. Additionally, the normal safety separations between private septic systems and wells may be bridged by rising and waning flood waters. These waters may, therefore, carry the germs of a range of sicknesses typified by diarrhea and other communicable diseases. All material that they touch should be either disinfected or discarded.
In the event of a flood…
• If your home or workplace is flooding, turn off basement furnaces and the outside gas valve. Do not handle energized electrical equipment in wet areas. Shut off the electricity. If the area around the fuse box or circuit breaker is wet, stand on a dry board and shut off the power with a dry wooden stick. Do not turn the power back on until the electrical system has been thoroughly checked and repaired.
• Never try to cross a flood area on foot. The water may be unsanitary and any fast running water could sweep you away.
• Wait until flood waters are below basement level before trying to drain or pump the basement.
• After contact with flood waters, always wash your hands with soap and water that has been disinfected before preparing or eating food, after flood clean-up activities, and after handling articles contaminated with flood water.
• Never allow children to play in flood waters. Clean all toys and equipment with a disinfectant or discard them after contamination with flood waters.
• Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with flood water. This includes packaged food items in plastic, paper, cardboard, cloth, and similar containers that may have been water damaged, as well as beverage containers with screw-caps, snap lids, crimped caps (soda bottles), twist caps, flip tops, and home canned foods, as these tops cannot be disinfected appropriately.
• All clothing, curtains, bedding, etc. should be washed with hot, soapy water, and bleached if possible. Furniture and floors may be rinsed with clean water after washing with soap and water; disinfect if possible.
• Never assume that water-damaged structures or ground are stable. Structural elements that have been submerged or subject to rushing flood waters may be unsound. Assume all stairs, floors and roofs are unsafe until inspected and leave immediately if shifting or unusual noises signal a possible collapse.
For Additional information:
CT Department of Public Health
Click on Hurricane Irene link on the website – www.ct.gov/dph
Environmental Protection Agency
Website – www.epa.gov/iaq/flood
No comments:
Post a Comment