Don't Let Storm Dangers Threaten Your Health and Safety

Lingering dangers from storms can cause health risks and other problems when you least expect it, particularly when cleaning up debris and other items around your home or business.

Here are some tips from the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County to help keep you and your family safe from post-storm dangers.

Mosquitoes

• Standing water left after a storm is a magnet for mosquitoes and becomes their breeding ground. Drain standing storm water from any containers where water collected.
• To protect yourself from mosquitoes, clean up storm debris as soon as possible. Wear long sleeves, long pants, shoes and socks, and use mosquito spray.

Well contamination

• If a well has been submerged in floodwater, it should be tested, since floodwater may have entered the casing and contaminated it. Residents can email HillsWeb@flhealth.gov, for a list of State-certified laboratories in Hillsborough County for testing
• It is recommended that residents boil the water or use an alternate water source until it has been tested and found to be safe

Sanitation and Hygiene: Preventing waterborne illness

• Basic hygiene is very important during clean up. Always wash your hands with soap and water after participating in cleanup activities, especially after handling items contaminated by floodwater or sewage.
• If you have open cuts or sores exposed to floodwater, keep them as clean as possible by washing them with soap and clean water. Apply antibiotic ointment to reduce the risk of infection.
• Do not allow children to play in floodwater. They can be exposed to water contaminated with fecal matter. Disinfect toys that have been in floodwater until the toys have been disinfected. Use ¼-cup of bleach in a gallon of water.

If you get your drinking water from a private well and your area has experienced flooding:

• Disinfect your well using the procedures available from your local health department or provided on the Florida Department of Health website
• Have your water tested

If your home is served by a septic tank:

• If your plumbing is functioning slowly, conserve water as much as possible. Fix any plumbing leaks as soon as possible.
• DO NOT have your septic tank pumped until the soil surrounding the tank is dry. When the ground is saturated with water, the tank might collapse if it is pumped dry.
• Septic systems are generally functional once flood waters go down. If your system was damaged, repairs must be permitted and inspected by the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County.

How to clean up sewage-contaminated items:

• Walls, hard-surfaced floors, and many other household surfaces should be cleaned with soap and water and optionally disinfected with a solution of ¼ cup of bleach per gallon of water. Do not mix ammonia cleansers with bleach, as toxic vapors will form.
• Wash all linens and clothing in hot water. Items that cannot be washed or dry cleaned, such as mattresses, carpeting, and upholstered furniture, should be discarded. Similarly, discard contaminated household materials that cannot be disinfected, such as wall coverings, cloth, rugs, and drywall.
• Protective clothing such as rubber boots and waterproof gloves should be worn during cleanup
• Once cleanup is complete, it is important to dry out affected items to prevent the growth of mold

To protect against health risks associated with mold:

• Remove standing water and wet materials from your home or office
• If mold growth has occurred, carefully remove or clean the moldy material using personal protective equipment – gloves, goggles, etc.
• Individuals with known mold allergies or asthma should not clean or remove moldy materials

Animal bite prevention:

• Be cautious around unfamiliar animals. Do not approach wild or injured animals.
• If you are bitten, wash the wound thoroughly and contact your health care provider and local animal control department

Prevent foodborne illness:

• Don’t eat food that may have been in contact with contaminated water
• Undamaged, commercially canned foods can be saved if you remove the labels and then disinfect them in a solution of ¼ cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water; re-label the cans, including expiration date and type of food