Authorities urged residents with flooded homes to remain alert and follow certain recommendations, which have been expanded for the safety of residents, following the storms recorded over the New Year's weekend throughout the Bay Area, which caused severe flooding in various areas, landslides, rising rivers and falling trees, among others.
"As our community deals with the impacts of flooding on homes and property, the San Mateo County Health Department urges residents to take precautions to protect themselves and their families," the county said in a statement.
Floodwater can contain untreated sewage, animal waste, toxic substances, chemical compounds, fungi, bacteria and other harmful materials, he said. Storm debris and the effects of power outages can present additional hazards.
Expanded Health and Safety Guidelines
- Wear boots and gloves when working in areas that have been flooded.
- Make sure the main electrical switch is off before entering a flooded structure. Do not turn it back on until you are sure there has been no damage to any wires or appliances connected to the electrical system.
- If you smell gas or suspect a gas leak, call 911. Then call PG&E at (800) 743-5000. Warn your neighbors of the potential problem.
- Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. If you have children who have been in contact with water, make sure they wash their hands too.
- Keep children and pets away from floodwaters and avoid outdoor areas that have recently flooded. Remove shoes and wipe paws before returning indoors.
- If you have open wounds or sores, protect them from water. Keep them clean by washing them with soap and applying antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. If a wound becomes red, swollen, or oozing, seek medical attention immediately.
- If you swallow flood water, you should consult a doctor immediately due to the risk of hepatitis A infection.
- If you are unsure of the quality of your drinking water, use bottled water. Check with your local water provider for any boil water orders. If you have a domestic well, it may require disinfection if it was affected by flooding. See guidelines here: smchealth.org/welluse
- Do not allow children to play with toys that have been in contact with flood water until the toys have been disinfected. You can disinfect toys with a solution of 1/4 cup bleach in one gallon of water.
- For general surface disinfection, use a cloth soaked with 1 tablespoon of bleach in one gallon of water.
- Contact your local sewer authority if you see solid waste coming from your sewage.
- Contact your insurance company for additional guidance if your home suffered water damage.
- See more information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on flood recovery: www.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/after.html
food safety
- Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with flood water. Throw away any food that is not stored in a waterproof container if there is a chance it may have come into contact with flood water.
- Commercially canned foods that are not spoiled can be saved if you remove the labels from the cans, wash them thoroughly, and then sanitize them with a solution consisting of ¼ cup bleach in one gallon of water.
- Food containers with screw-on lids, snap-on lids, crimp-on lids (soda bottles), twist-on lids, flip-top lids, push-open lids, and home-canned foods should be thrown away if they have come into contact with flood water because they cannot be sanitized.
- If there was no power, throw away all discolored or bad-smelling food, especially meat, poultry, and fish in the refrigerator.
- Frozen food can last 48 to 72 hours if the freezer is full and the door is closed. When in doubt, throw it out.
- Thawed food is usually safe to eat if it is still “refrigerator” cold or can be refrozen if it still contains ice crystals. Discard any food that has been at room temperature for two (2) hours or more and any food that has an unusual odor, color or texture.
- Discard fruits and vegetables that have been in contact with flood waters.
Upholstered clothing and furniture
- Wash all clothing, bedding and sheets in hot water or dry clean.
- For mattresses and upholstered furniture that cannot be dry cleaned or washed, dry them in the sun and spray them thoroughly with a disinfectant such as Lysol.
buildings and structures
- Clean walls, hard-surface floors, and other surfaces with soap and water. Disinfect with a solution of 1/4 cup bleach added to one gallon of water. Take special care to disinfect areas where food is stored or prepared, such as countertops, pantry shelves, refrigerator walls, and shelves.
- Prevent outside water from coming back into your home. Rainwater from gutters or the roof should drain away from the house; the ground around the house should slope away from the house to keep basements and crawl spaces dry.
- Ensure crawl spaces and spaces beneath dwelling units have adequate drainage to limit standing water. Ventilate to allow the area to dry out.
- Use fans and dehumidifiers to remove excess moisture. Fans should be placed in a window or door to blow air out rather than in, so as not to spread mold.
- Thoroughly wash and sanitize all dishes, utensils, and food preparation equipment.
- Steam clean any carpet that can be salvaged.
- Careless cleaning can do more harm than good by spreading mold and bacteria that can grow on damp materials to other areas of the building and to heating and ventilation systems.
- Contact your insurance company for additional guidance if your home suffered water damage.
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