[emo-news] Post Flood Information

[Emergency Management News - Norwich, NY]

POST-FLOOD INFORMATIONJuly 2, 2006 


 Recovery Information – What You Need to Know

 
 

 IMMEDIATE INFORMATION:
 
The City of Norwich will take away, for free, flood damaged items you remove from your home.  This will begin on Monday, July 3rd.  All items, including white goods, should be placed at the curb for pickup.  Only flood damaged items will be accepted.   The City has also hired private contractors to expedite the removal of these items.
If you are going to take items to the landfill yourself, the County has waived the tipping fees for things that have been flood damaged.  
The Norwich YMCA is offering their shower facilities to flood victims at no charge. Call the YMCA at 336-YMCA for more information, including hours they are open.
The City of Norwich is waiving the building permit fees for anyone completing flood related repairs to their home or business.  A permit is still required, but there will not be a charge.
The American Red Cross is offering free cleanup kits so residents can begin the process of safely cleaning their homes.  We have placed an order for the kits and are anticipating they will be delivered by late Monday afternoon to the Norwich Fire Department. The kits include a mop, pail, cleaner, bleach and a broom.  Additional bleach and gloves will also be available.  To see if they are available, please call the Fire Department at 334-3411.
The Headwaters Youth Conservation Corp will have teenagers available to assist homeowners, particularly the elderly, in cleanup around their home.  They will be starting this service on Wednesday. You can contact the Headwaters Youth Conservation Corp through The Place at 336-9696. 
If you had flood damage, and the electricity and/or gas service was disconnected, your home must be inspected by the City Codes Office before that service can be reconnected.  Please contact the City Codes Office at 334-1242.  Since the Code Officer will be out inspecting homes much of the day, please leave a message with a number where you can be reached.
There will be a number of insurance agents, inspectors and government officials who will be in the neighborhoods during the coming weeks doing their jobs.  All of these people should have some sort of identification so you can determine who they are.  Unfortunately, these events also tend to attract scammers.  If you have any questions about the identify of someone coming to your home asking for personal information, you can call the Norwich Police Department at 334-2424 for assistance.
Mold, household cleanup, and standing water are major issues after a flood.  We have put together some information to assist you. This information is listed starting on page 3.  If you need additional assistance or resources, there are contact numbers at the end of this document.
Do not go down the streets salvaging through other people’s damaged items. The items are out there for a reason; primarily they are not safe to have in the home. The Police Department will be strictly enforcing this.
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The City of Norwich cautions that recovering from a flood involves taking many special precautions, including the following:
 
Returning Home After the Flood
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 after toilet use, cleanup activities or handling items contaminated by floodwater or sewage.
Flood waters may contain fecal matter.  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 with toys that are contaminated by floodwater.  
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.
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.  
 
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For additional information on mold, safety and other related health issues, you can contact the Chenango County Health Department at (607) 337-1660.
 
If you need additional resources, including the names and numbers of water damage restoration services, call the Emergency Management Office at 334-1299 or 334-3728.
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