The Alabama Department of Public Health is urging residents to take precautions as areas of the state prepare for possible flooding and damage from Hurricane Isaias. State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris encouraged Alabamians to follow health and safety warnings and protect themselves during power outages and cleanup efforts.
The health department outlined precautions involving carbon monoxide, food safety, chain saw injuries, power lines, septic systems, well water, animals and mold.
Never use generators, grills, camp stoves or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning devices inside a home, basement, garage or camper — or even outside near an open window. Keep these devices at least 20 feet away from any door, window or vent and use a battery-operated or battery backup CO detector whenever you use one of these devices.
CO is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death if breathed. When power outages occur during emergencies such as hurricanes, people often try to use alternative sources of fuel or electricity for heating, cooling or cooking. CO from these sources can build up in a home, garage or camper and poison the people and animals inside. Look to friends or a community shelter for help. If you must use an alternative source of fuel or electricity, be sure to use it only outside and away from open windows.
The most common symptoms of CO poisoning include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and confusion. People who are sleeping or who have been drinking alcohol can die from CO poisoning before ever having symptoms. Consult a health care professional right away if these symptoms occur.
Power outages associated with storm-force winds can cause concerns about the safety of frozen and refrigerated foods. As a general rule, a full upright or chest freezer will keep foods frozen for about two days without power.
A partially full freezer will keep food frozen for about one day. This time may be extended by keeping the door shut. A refrigerator will keep food cool for four to six hours if the door is kept closed as much as possible.
Any thawed foods that have been at room temperature for more than two hours should be discarded. Foods still containing ice crystals can be refrozen, although the quality of the food may decrease. Foods that have thawed to refrigerator temperatures (no more than 40 degrees Fahrenheit) can also be cooked and then refrozen.
Follow these safeguards against injury while using a chain saw:
If power lines are lying on the ground or dangling near the ground, do not touch them. Notify your utility company as soon as possible if lines have been damaged or if power lines are down, but do not attempt to move or repair them.
Avoid driving through standing water if downed power lines are in the water. If a power line falls across your vehicle while you are driving, continue driving away from the line. If the engine stalls, do not turn off the ignition. Stay in your vehicle and wait for emergency personnel. Do not allow anyone other than emergency personnel to approach your vehicle.
During heavy rains and floods, the ground can become saturated. Residents who use an onsite sewage disposal system (a septic tank system) may be experiencing performance problems due to these rain-soaked conditions.
Follow these suggestions that may provide some relief:
Signs that a septic system is not working properly include the following:
Precautions related to septic systems include:
Severe flooding can increase the risk of contamination of drinking water wells with floodwater that may contain sewage. People in areas where flash floods may have occurred should test their private water wells before drinking the water. Private wells that have been covered by floodwater should be assumed to be contaminated.
Do not drink water from your well or feed it to your animals until you have tested it and have received a satisfactory test result. Sample kits may be obtained from local health departments and state health department laboratories, which are equipped to test well water for bacteriological contamination.
Once a satisfactory sample is obtained, the well should be monitored with ongoing sampling to ensure the quality of the water supply. Until the water is confirmed to be free of contaminants, residents should use only clear water that has been brought to a full boil for one minute. Contact your health department at https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/about/locations.html for a list of septic system contractors in your area.
Stray animals can be dangerous during a storm. Most animals are disoriented and displaced, so do not corner them. Some animals may carry rabies; therefore, avoid contact with strays. Although rabies is rare, it may be transmitted in Alabama by foxes, bats, raccoons or, rarely, other animals. If you are bitten by an animal, seek medical attention as soon as possible. If an animal must be removed, contact your local animal control authorities.
Flooding creates conditions that promote mold growth. Take precautionary measures to avoid indoor air quality problems when repairing storm-damaged homes and buildings after floods.
Molds are mainly a health hazard to the part of the population that is allergic to them. Proper cleanup of molds decreases the amount available to cause symptoms.
Most molds do not cause infections, but some molds pose a health risk to people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV infection, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and people who have received organ transplants. People with asthma, allergies or other breathing conditions may be more sensitive to mold.
To protect against health risks associated with mold:
Cleanup must be done correctly to remove the musty, earthy smell from buildings. The first step is to remove sources of moisture, since residual moisture increases humidity and promotes further mold growth. Fix any leaks and remove all standing water. A "wet-dry" shop vacuum (or the vacuum function of a carpet steam cleaner) may be helpful. Use fans, open windows, dehumidifiers or air conditioning to lower humidity.
Remove all sheetrock to at least 12 inches above the high-water mark. Prevent mold growth on hard surfaces, such as glass, plastic and metal, by cleaning with detergent and water. To remove mold from hard surfaces, use commercial products, soap and water or a bleach solution of 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water. Use a stiff brush on rough surfaces such as concrete.
Alabama does not license mold remediation services or maintain a list of approved remediators, but you may check a list of professional cleaners who are certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification at IICRC.org to request a list of qualified professionals located in your area.
For more information, see the following websites:
