When the Hurricane is Over

The following is a PDF file from the Centers for Disease Control and Infection (CDC)

Returning Home After a Hurricane: Be Healthy and Safe
https://www.mecknc.gov/HealthDepartment/TopNews/Documents/returnhome.pdf


Serious disease outbreaks have not occurred in hurricane-affected areas, but you should still be careful of getting sick or hurt. ---CONTINUED---

INCLUDES:
Clean Your Home and Stop Mold
Protect Yourself from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Keep Drinking Water and Food Safe
Keep Drinking Water and Food Safe
Avoid Contact with Animals and Insects
Drive Safely

Stay Safe After a Hurricane or Other Tropical Storm
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/be-safe-after.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fdisasters%2Fhurricanes%2Fafter.html

The storm might be over, but that doesn’t mean the danger is. Keep your loved ones safe after the storm by following our safety tips.

Includes info on:

Stay out of floodwater.
Never use a wet electrical device.
If the power is out, use flashlights instead of candles.
Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Be careful near damaged buildings.
Stay away from power lines.
Protect yourself from animals and pests.
Drink safe water. Eat safe food.
Wash your hands.
Take care of any wounds or injuries to prevent infection.
Clean up your home safely.
Take care of your emotional health.

Mold Prevention Strategies and Possible Health Effects in the Aftermath of Hurricanes and Major Floods
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5508a1.htm

Extensive water damage after major hurricanes and floods increases the likelihood of mold contamination in buildings. This report provides information on how to limit exposure to mold and how to identify and prevent mold-related health effects. Where uncertainties in scientific knowledge exist, practical applications designed to be protective of a person's health are presented. Evidence is included about assessing exposure, clean-up and prevention, personal protective equipment, health effects, and public health strategies and recommendations. The recommendations assume that, in the aftermath of major hurricanes or floods, buildings wet for >48 hours will generally support visible and extensive mold growth and should be remediated, and excessive exposure to mold-contaminated materials can cause adverse health effects in susceptible persons regardless of the type of mold or the extent of contamination. ---CONTINUED---

Hurricane aftermath: Infectious disease threats from common, not exotic, diseases
https://scienceblog.com/8892/hurricane-aftermath-infectious-disease-threats-from-common-not-exotic-diseases/

WASHINGTON, DC--September 13, 2005--In the wake of Katrina, the public health threats from infectious diseases in hurricane-devastated areas are more likely to come from milder, more common infections rather than exotic diseases. These common infections can often be prevented using simple hygiene measures and a little common sense.

“Deadly diseases, such as typhoid or cholera, are unlikely to break out after hurricanes and floods in areas where these diseases do not already naturally occur,” says Ruth Berkelman, MD, Chair of the Public and Scientific Affairs Board of the American Society for Microbiology. “The greatest threats to the people in the affected areas are going to be from diseases that were already there.” ---CONTINUED---

Homeowner’s and Renter’s Guide to Mold Cleanup After Disasters
https://www.cdc.gov/mold/cleanup-guide.html

PDF Version here:   https://www.cdc.gov/mold/pdfs/Homeowners_and_Renters_Guide.pdf

  Cleaning up after a flood can pose health risks. You and your family should wait to re-enter your home until professionals tell you it is safe, with no structural, electrical or other hazards.

Before you start cleanup activities, contact your insurance company and take pictures of the home and your belongings. Remember – drying your home and removing water-damaged items is your most important step for preventing mold damage.   ---CONTINUED---

Includes:

Is There a Problem?
Mold Basics: How Molds Can Affect Your Health
Before You Enter Any Moldy Site:
After You Leave a Mold Site:
Should I Do This Myself?
If I Must Do This Myself, How Can I Do It Safely?
Safety Tips on Using Portable Generators
Am I Done?