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What
to Do After a Flood |
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- Listen
for news reports to learn whether
the community’s water supply
is safe to drink.
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- Avoid
floodwaters, as water may be contaminated
by oil, gasoline, or raw sewage.
Water may also be electrically charged
from underground or downed power
lines.
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- Be
aware of areas where floodwaters
have receded. Roads may have weakened
and could collapse under the weight
of a car.
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- Stay
away from downed power lines, and
report them to the power company.
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- Return
home only when authorities indicate
it is safe.
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- Stay
out of any building if it is surrounded
by floodwaters.
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- Use
extreme caution when entering buildings;
there may be hidden damage, particularly
in foundations.
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- Service
damaged septic tanks, cesspools,
pits, and leaching systems as soon
as possible. Damaged sewage systems
are serious health hazards.
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Precautions
When Returning to Your Home |
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- Electrical
power and natural gas or propane
tanks should be shut off to avoid
fire, electrocution, or explosions.
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- Try
to return to your home during the
daytime so that you do not have to
use any lights. If this is not possible,
use battery-powered flashlights and
lanterns, rather than candles, gas
lanterns, or torches.
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- If
you smell gas or suspect a leak,
turn off the main gas valve, open
all windows, and leave the house
immediately. Notify the gas company
or the police or fire departments
or State Fire Marshal's office, and
do not turn on the lights or do anything
that could cause a spark. Do not
return to the house until you are
told it is safe to do so.
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- Your
electrical system may also be damaged.
If you see frayed wiring or sparks,
or if there is an odor of something
burning but no visible fire, you
should immediately shut off the electrical
system at the circuit breaker.
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- Avoid
any downed power lines, particularly
those in water. Avoid wading in standing
water, which also may contain glass
or metal fragments.
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- You
should consult your utility company
about using electrical equipment,
including power generators. Be aware
that it is against the law and a
violation of electrical codes to
connect generators to your home's
electrical circuits without the approved,
automatic-interrupt devices. If a
generator is on line when electrical
service is restored, it can become
a major fire hazard. In addition,
the improper connection of a generator
to your home's electrical circuits
may endanger line workers helping
to restore power in your area. All
electrical equipment and appliances
must be completely dry before returning
them to service. It is advisable
to have a certified electrician check
these items if there is any question.
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- Also,
remember not to operate any gas-powered
equipment indoors.
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Cleanup |
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- Walls,
hard-surfaced floors, and many other
household surfaces should be cleaned
with soap and water and disinfected
with a solution of 1 cup of bleach
to five gallons of water.
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- Be
particularly careful to thoroughly
disinfect surfaces that may come
in contact with food, such as counter
tops, pantry shelves, refrigerators,
etc. Areas where small children play
should also be carefully cleaned.
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- Wash
all linens and clothing in hot water,
or dry clean them. For items that
cannot be washed or dry cleaned,
such as mattresses and upholstered
furniture, air dry them in the sun
and then spray them thoroughly with
a disinfectant.
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- Steam
clean all carpeting.
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- If
there has been a backflow of sewage
into the house, wear rubber boots
and waterproof gloves during cleanup.
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- Remove
and discard contaminated household
materials that cannot be disinfected,
such as wallcoverings, cloth, rugs,
and drywall.
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Chemical
Hazards |
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- Use
extreme caution when returning to
your area after a flood. Be aware
of potential chemical hazards you
may encounter during flood recovery.
Flood waters may have buried or moved
hazardous chemical containers of
solvents or other industrial chemicals
from their normal storage places.
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- If
any propane tanks (whether 20-lb.
tanks from a gas grill or household
propane tanks) are discovered, do
not attempt to move them yourself.
These represent a very real danger
of fire or explosion. If any are
found, you should contact the police
or fire departments or your State
Fire Marshal's office.
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- Car
batteries, even those in flood water,
may still contain an electrical charge
and should be removed with extreme
caution by using insulated gloves.
Avoid coming in contact with any
acid that may have spilled from a
damaged car battery.
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