The authorities called to stay alert and follow certain recommendations for residents with flooded homes, which have been expanded for the safety of the inhabitants, after the storms registered on New Year's weekend throughout the Bay Area, which caused strong floods in various areas, landslides, river growth and falling trees, among others.
"As our community deals with the impacts of flooding on homes and properties, the San Mateo County Health Department urges residents to take precautions to protect themselves and their families," the county said in a statement. .
He explained that flood water may contain raw sewage, animal waste, toxic substances, chemical compounds, fungi, bacteria and other harmful materials. 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 power switch is turned off before entering a flooded structure. Do not turn it on again until you are sure that there has been no damage to the cables or devices 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 often and thoroughly. If you have children who have been in contact with water, make sure they wash their hands as well.
- Keep children and pets away from floodwaters, and avoid outdoor areas that have recently flooded. Take off your shoes and clean your paws before going back inside.
- If you have open wounds or sores, protect them from water. Keep them clean by washing with soap and applying an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. If a wound becomes red, swollen, or oozing, seek immediate medical attention.
- If you swallow flood water, you should see a doctor immediately due to the risk of hepatitis A infection.
- If you are not sure about the quality of your drinking water, use bottled water. Check with your local water supplier for any boil water orders. If you have a domestic well, it may require disinfection if it was affected by flooding. See the guidelines here: smchealth.org/welluse
- Do not allow children to play with toys that have come in contact with floodwater until the toys have been disinfected. You can disinfect toys with a solution of 1/4 cup of bleach to a gallon of water.
- For general surface disinfection, use a cloth soaked with 1 tablespoon of bleach to one gallon of water.
- Contact your local sewer authority if solid waste from sewage is seen.
- Contact your insurance company for additional guidance if your home sustained 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 in contact with floodwater. Discard any food that is not stored in a waterproof container if there is a chance it may have come into contact with floodwater.
- Undamaged commercially canned foods can be saved by removing the labels from the cans, washing them well, and then sanitizing them with a solution consisting of ¼ cup of bleach to one gallon of water.
- Food containers with screw-on lids, snap-on lids, crimped lids (soda bottles), twist-on lids, flip-top lids, snap-open, and home-canned foods should be discarded if they have come in contact with household water. flood because they cannot be disinfected.
- 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 remains closed. When in doubt, throw it away.
- Thawed food can usually be eaten if it is still cold in the “refrigerator” or 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 come in contact with floodwaters.
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 laundered, dry in the sun and spray 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 extra care to sanitize areas where food is stored or prepared, such as countertops, pantry shelves, refrigerator walls, and shelves.
- Prevent outside water from re-entering your home. Rainwater from gutters or from the roof should drain away from the house; The ground around the house should slope away from the house to keep basements and basements dry.
- Make sure spaces under structures and spaces under dwelling units have adequate drainage to limit standing water. Ventilate to allow area to dry.
- 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 distributing fungus 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 sustained water damage.
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