Volusia County Offers Tips on Health Preparedness for Tropical Storm
Events
Daytona Beach -- When hurricanes and tropical storms affect the east
coast of Florida, large amounts of rainfall can be expected. It is
important for Volusia County residents to be prepared for possible
flooding as well as public health concerns.
“There are a number of public health concerns related to flood water
and now is the time for our community to prepare in case we are impacted
by this storm,” said Dr. Tom Coleman, director of the Volusia County
Health Dept. “It is important not to walk in floodwater, do not drink
it. Wash your hands to avoid disease and basically have a preparedness
plan for your family, if your area is flooded.”
Moving Flood Water
During flooding, the greatest threat comes from moving water. The deeper
the moving water, the greater the threat. People should avoid driving
in moving water, regardless of the size of their vehicle.
Pooling Flood Water
Heavy rain causes floodwaters to rise and pool on streets and throughout
neighborhoods. In these situations, be aware of the following:
* Road surfaces become obscured, and drivers can unknowingly steer into
a deep body of water, such as a canal or pond.
* Children playing in contaminated standing water can become sick or
be bitten by snakes or floating insects.
* People coming into contact with floodwaters should thoroughly rinse
any exposed body parts with soap and sanitized or disinfected water.
Contaminated Water Supply
Drinking contaminated water may cause illness.
You cannot assume that the water in the affected area is safe to drink.
Listen to local announcements on safety of the water supply.
If your public water system loses pressure, a boil water notice will
likely be issued for your area.
People in these areas should take precautions to avoid contaminated
water, especially individuals with private wells. If your well is in
a flooded area, your water may contain disease-causing organisms and
may not be safe to drink.
The Department of Health recommends one of the following:
Boil water for at least one minute before using it for drinking, washing,
cooking, etc.
OR Disinfect water by adding 8 drops (about 1/8 tsp – this would form
a puddle about the size of a dime) of unscented household bleach per
one gallon of water, and then let it stand for 30 minutes. If the water
is cloudy after 30 minutes, repeat the procedure. Use a container that
has a cap or cover for disinfecting and storing water to be used for
drinking. This will prevent contamination.
OR Use only bottled water, especially for mixing baby formula.
After the flooding subsides:
* Disinfect your well using the procedures available from your local
health department or provided on the Department of Health Web site at
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/water/manual/floodinf.htm.
* Have your water tested by your local health department or by a laboratory
certified by the State to perform a drinking water analysis.
Contaminated Food
Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with floodwaters.
Discard any food without a waterproof container if there is any chance
that it has come into contact with floodwaters. Undamaged, commercially
canned foods can be saved if you remove the labels thoroughly, wash
the cans, and then disinfect them with a solution consisting of 1/4
cup of unscented household bleach per gallon of water for clean surfaces.
Re-label your cans, including the expiration date, with a marker. Food
containers with screw caps, snap lids and home canned foods should be
discarded if they have come in contact with floodwaters because they
cannot be disinfected.
Contaminated Items
Discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples
and pacifiers. There is no way to safely clean them if they have come
in contact with contaminated floodwaters. Thoroughly wash metal pans,
ceramic dishes and utensils with soap and hot water and sanitize by
boiling them in clean water or by immersing them for 15 minutes in a
solution of 1/4 cup of household bleach per one gallon of water.
Hygiene
Basic hygiene is very important during a natural disaster. Always wash
your hands with soap and water that has been boiled or disinfected and
cooled. Hands should be washed before preparing or eating food, after
using the bathroom or changing a diaper, after handling uncooked food,
after playing with a pet, after handling garbage, after tending to someone
who is sick or injured, after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing,
after participating in flood cleanup activities, and after handling
articles contaminated with floodwater or sewage.
For further information, please contact the Volusia County Health Department’s
Environmental Health Office at 386-274-0692.
You may also visit http://www.volusiahealth.com,
http://www.doh.state.fl.us
or http://www.FloridaDisaster.org.
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