Health Topic
Updated: 06/29/2007

Before A Flood

• Prepare a Family Disaster Plan
  • Your plan should include posting emergency numbers by the telephone, having an emergency communication plan, and keeping a battery-operated radio and extra batteries on hand. For more information regarding disaster planning go to www.fema.gov
  • Family members should be familiar with the plan prior to any type of emergency situation
  • Locate local shelters and incorporate them into the evacuation portion of your family’s disaster plan.
  • If you own pets be sure to include them into your plans. Please note that many shelters do not accept animals so it is best to find a shelter in advance that accepts both you and your pet or plan ahead for your pet to be cared for at a separate location.
• Put Together an Emergency Supply Kit
  • Store a kit at your home, in your car, and at
    your office
  • Kits should include a first aid kit, flashlight and extra batteries, dust mask, 3 days worth of food per person, diapers and baby formula (if you have a child that requires these), and a battery operated or hand cranked radio. For more information on what items to store in your emergency supply kit visit:
    www.ready.gov/america/getakit/index.html
• Make Sure Your Home is Prepared
  • The #1 best way to prepare for a flood is to purchase flood insurance
  • Seal walls in the lowest level of your home with waterproofing materials to help protect against water seepage
  • Construct barriers outside your home to help prevent against floodwaters entering
• Know Your Neighborhood and Your Neighbors
  • Find out if you live in a flood zone. If so, learn more
    about previous floods that have affected your neighborhood
  • Plan several ways of evacuating your area in the event of a flood. You should have several options for leaving your neighborhood.
  • Have a neighborhood meeting to discuss evacuation plans, to encourage others to create a personal disaster plan, and to brainstorm ideas for flood protection, response, and recovery.
• Know the Meaning of Forecasts
  • Watch: Watch out for storm problems/ the
    weather might become bad
  • Advisory: When small weather problems begin to
    occur
  • Warning: When the storms are actually causing larger and more dangerous problems like flash flooding

During a Flood

• Driving
  • Do not drive through flooded areas. If driving toward an area that is flooding or has flooded turn your car around and find another route to your destination
  • Know that a foot of water has the potential to float most vehicles
  • Know that 2 feet of moving, rushing water is enough to carry away most vehicles, including trucks and SUV’s
  • If flood waters rise around your vehicle, quickly abandon it and move to higher ground. Do not stay in your vehicle, as rising and rushing flood waters may sweep you away.

• Home
  • Flash floods can occur with little warning. In the event of a flash flood immediately move to higher ground
  • disconnect electrical appliances
  • move essential household items/ belongings to an upper floor of your home
  • avoid walking through moving flood water, as it can knock you down. If it is not possible to avoid walking in the water use a stick or similar item to check the firmness of the ground prior to walking on it.
  • Flooding may render tap water undrinkable. Your disaster plan should include stocking at least 1 gallon of water per person x 3 days for a total of 3 gallons of water per person. You may also want to learn how to purify water, in the event your pre-stocked water is unavailable. In an emergency you can treat water by using 16 drops of regular household bleach per gallon of water. Do not use bleach that is scented, has extra cleaners, or is color-safe.

After a Flood

• Flood Water
  • Avoid moving water, even if it appears as though the flood is subsiding
  • Avoid contact with floodwaters, as they may be contaminated with raw sewage, gasoline, and other harmful substances
  • Be aware that floodwaters may be electrically charged from downed power and underground lines
  • Do not drive your car or walk on areas where floodwaters have receded, as roads and walkways may collapse under the additional weight
  • Floodwaters may contaminate public drinking water; listen for news reports indicating that community drinking water is safe to consume
    
• Other Hazards
  • Downed power lines should be avoided and reported to the power company
  • Any building that is surrounded by floodwaters should be avoided
  • There may be hidden damage to buildings, such as weakened foundations. Extreme caution should be exercised before entering any structure after a flood
  • It is important to completely dry wet areas of your home to help protect against mold. Flooding can create an optimal environment for mold to grow, therefore it is important to learn how to clean your home after a flood to prevent this growth.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has listed general guidelines for cleaning up wet areas in an effort to prevent mold growth. These guidelines are:

• Take emergency action to stop water intrusion, if needed.
• Determine the extent of water damage and mold contamination.
• Plan and implement remediation activities.
  • If needed, establish containment and protection for workers and occupants.
  • Eliminate or limit water or moisture sources.
  • Decontaminate or remove damaged materials, as appropriate.
  • Dry any wet materials, if possible.
  • Evaluate whether space has been successfully remediated.
  • Reassemble the space to prevent or limit possibility of recurrence by controlling sources of moisture.
  • More information regarding how to deal with mold can be found at: www.epa.gov/mold/moldresources.html

Know that:

• mold thrives in moist, warm areas
• mold exposure can occur through skin contact, ingestion, or inhalation

Health Issues Related to Flooding

• Mold Exposure: Exposure to mold may result in respiratory problems, such as asthma, allergic reactions, infections, and toxic effects
  
• Injuries: These can occur during flooding as well as after, as people return to their neighborhoods and homes and begin to clean up garbage, debris,
  and damage. Injuries may include lacerations, strains/sprains, and contusions.
  
• Infectious Disease: These may include, but are not limited to, dermatological disease, conjunctivitis, gastrointestinal disease, and potentially vectorborne diseases.
  
• Psychological Issues: Mental trauma may result not only from the flood itself, but also from the loss of home and possessions, geographical displacement, or lack of flood insurance. People may experience shock, anxiety, depression, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  Psychological effects of flooding last for periods ranging from several
  days to years after the actual event.
  
• Other Health Issues: Poisoning- Flooding may cause underground pipelines to rupture, or for toxic waste sites to overflow. The release of chemicals stored at ground level may also occur Heart Attacks- Stress and trauma may increase the risk for a heart attack.

Remember: If you must evacuate your home, do not return until authorities have declared it to be safe!

For More Information Please Visit:

http://www.fema.gov
http://www.ready.gov
http://www.epa.gov
http://www.cdc.gov
Photos of Hurricane Ivan Flooding in Bethlehem