FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 25, 2005
CONTACT: Doc Kokol (850) 245-4111
**TROPICAL STORM KATRINA INFORMATION SHEET **
Flooding
TALLAHASSEE – As tropical storm Katrina moves
across the state, a large amount of rainfall is
expected. It is important to be prepared for issues
related to flooding.
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 flood waters 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.
- Electricity from streetlights and power
poles may be active through standing water, causing a
deadly shock to anyone coming in contact with it.
- 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
hurricane-affected area is safe to drink. Listen to
local announcements on safety of the water supply.
If your public water system lost 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.
DOH recommends one of the following:
- Boil water for
at least one minute before using it for drinking,
washing, cooking, etc.;
- 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
gallon of water, and then let it stand for 30 minutes.
If the water is cloudy after 30 minutes, repeat the
procedure; 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;
and
- 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 gallon of water.
Hygiene
Basic hygiene is very important during
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 flood water or sewage.
For further information, please contact your local
county health department or visit
www.doh.state.fl.us or
www.FloridaDisaster.org.
The Florida Emergency Information Line:
1-800-342-3557.
Public Information Emergency Support Function:
850-921-0384.
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2012 State of Florida