[emo-news] Post-Flood Information

Sat Jul 1 14:59:53 EDT 2006

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INFORMATION
July 1, 2006

HeadlineFrom the Norwich Emergency Management Office

<http://www.norwichnewyork.net/emergency>
http://www.norwichnewyork.net/emergency

Post-Flood Recovery Information - What You Should Do

New York State and local government officials caution that recovering
from a flood involves taking many special precautions, including the
following:

Returning Home After the Flood
*	Stay informed!  Listen to the radio or TV for instructions from
local officials.
*	Wait until an area has been declared safe before entering it.
Be careful driving, roads may be damaged and power lines may be down.
*	Stay away from downed power lines.
*	Before entering a building, check for structural damage.  Turn
off any outside gas lines at the meter or tank.  Let the building air
out to remove foul odors or escaping gases.
*	When entering the building, use a battery-powered flashlight.
Do not use an open flame as a source of light.  Gas may be trapped
inside the structure.
*	When inspecting the building, wear rubber boots and gloves.
Watch for electrical shorts and live wires before making certain the
main power switch is off.
*	Do not turn on electrical appliances until an electrician has
checked the system.
*	If, for any reason, you have turned off natural gas service to
your home, call your natural gas utility to restore service. Do not
attempt to restore gas service yourself.
*	Before you begin the cleanup process, document your damage.
Safely take photos of all visible damage.
*	When pumping out basements, make sure that gas and electric
service are off before starting to pump.  The draining should not be
done all at once.  Instead, drain a third at a time to make sure the
pressure difference doesn't cause the walls to buckle or collapse.

Food safety: Preventing food-borne diseases 

*	Commercially canned food should be discarded if there is bulging
or if it is open.
*	Undamaged, commercially canned foods can be saved if you remove
the labels and then disinfect the cans in a bleach solution.  Use 1/4
cup of bleach in one gallon of water; re-label the cans including
expiration date and type of food.
*	Infants should be fed only pre-mixed canned baby formula.
*	Frozen and refrigerated foods can also be unsafe.  Thawed and
refrigerated foods should be thrown out after four hours.

Sanitation and Hygiene: Preventing illness
*	Basic hygiene is very important during this emergency period.
Always wash your hands with soap and water that has been boiled or
disinfected before eating and after toilet use, cleanup activities or
handling items contaminated by floodwater or sewage.
*	Flood waters may contain fecal matter from sewage systems,
agricultural and industrial waste and septic tanks.  If you have open
cuts or sores exposed to the floodwater, keep them as clean as possible
by washing them with soap and disinfected or boiled water.  Apply
antibiotic ointment to reduce the risk of infection.  
*	Do not allow children to play in floodwater or with toys that
are contaminated by floodwater.  
*	If floodwaters are covering your septic tank and leach field you
should not use any flush toilets attached to the system. 

Preventing the Growth of Mold

*	Moisture that enters buildings from leaks or flooding
accelerates mold growth.  Molds can cause disease, trigger allergic
reactions and continue to damage materials after the storm. 
*	Remove standing water from your home or office.  Remove wet
materials promptly and ventilate; use fans and dehumidifiers if
possible.   
*	If mold growth has already occurred, it is best to have a
professional remove it. 
*	Individuals with known mold allergies or asthma should never
clean or remove mold.
*	Be careful about mixing household cleaners and disinfectants, as
combining certain types of products can produce toxic fumes and result
in injury or death. 

Additional Household Cleanup

*	Walls, hard-surfaced floors and many other household surfaces
must be cleaned with soap and water and disinfected with a solution of 1
cup of bleach to five gallons of water.
*	Thoroughly disinfect surfaces that come in contact with food and
children's play areas.
*	Wash all linens and clothing in hot water or dry-clean. 
*	Items that cannot be washed or dry-cleaned, such as mattresses
and upholstered furniture, must be air dried in the sun and sprayed
thoroughly with a disinfectant.
*	Steam-clean all carpeting. 
*	Replace fiberboard, insulation and disposable filters in your
heating/cooling system.
*	Wear rubber boots and waterproof gloves during clean-up. 
It can be difficult to throw away items in a home, particularly those
with sentimental value.  However, keeping certain items soaked by sewage
or floodwaters may be unhealthy.  Materials that cannot be thoroughly
cleaned and dried within 24-48 hours should be discarded.
Garbage Storage, Collection and Disposal
As you start cleaning, you will likely produce a great deal of garbage.
Local authorities will tell you where and when collection will occur.
Garbage invites insects and rodents.  Rodents, in particular, may be
looking for food because the flood may have destroyed their homes and
normal food source.
*         Store any garbage in watertight, rodent/insect-proof
containers with tight-fitting covers.  Use plastic liners if available.
*         Put garbage in a convenient location but not near your well.

Standing Water: Preventing mosquito-borne illness

Heavy rains and flooding can lead to an increase in mosquitoes that may
be infected with West Nile virus.  To protect against mosquitoes, remain
diligent in your personal mosquito protection efforts.  Avoid being
outdoors when mosquitoes are most active.  For many species, this is
during the dusk and dawn hours.  Also:
*	Wear clothing that covers most of your skin. 
*	Repellents containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), picaridin
or OLE (oil of lemon eucalyptus) are options.  Use strictly according to
label instructions.  Do not allow children to apply repellents and avoid
applying repellents to the hands of young children. 
*	Check around your home to rid the area of standing water.
*	Eliminate other breeding sites-remove old tires and turn over or
remove empty plastic containers.

For additional information, please contact the Chenango County Health
Department at (607) 337-1660.

_______________________________________

 <http://www.norwichnewyork.net/emergency/stormready.html> 
The City of Norwich is a National Weather Service StormReady Community.

To learn more about StormReady, click on the logo above.
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