Following a flood, all sorts of risks lurk in waters along with your property. When it’s germs, mold, power, or rapid flows — all pose a threat to your health and safety in case you are not careful. Here are the most frequent hazards following a house flooding, and tips to prevent them:
Infections
- You’ll be able to deal with a disease by eating or drinking contaminated products. Floodwaters can immediately infect food with germs such as E. coli or Salmonella or during a power surge.
- Throw away food that has come in contact with floodwaters, such as bottled beverages and goods from jars, or some other food that smells and looks unusual. Intact, canned products might be cleaned and cleaned.
- Discard perishable foods such as eggs or meat, which are abandoned at over 41 degrees Fahrenheit for over four hours.
- Throw away all medications, makeup, and other medications that have touched floodwater.
- If you have made contact with floodwater, practice good hygiene — wash hands regularly with soap and warm water.
- Do not let children play in floodwater or with toys contaminated with floodwater.
- When you’ve got an open wound, then keep it clean, cover it with a waterproof bandage, and also prevent exposure to floodwater.
Rapid Flowing Waters
- Do not push flowing water if it’s only a couple of inches deep. Your car or truck can break down or have swept away.
- When the streets are flooded and you must drive, track road conditions and follow closure indications. Be conscious of road hazards like sand, construction debris, tree limbs, and potholes. Rapidly moving water could be fatal, even in case you’re able to swim.
Respiratory Hazards
- Prevent areas with mold expansion — it may sort within 24-48 hours of flooding. Mold has to be eliminated before going back to your own property. For water and mold damage cleanup, employ a professional damage restoration firm, for example, PuroClean.
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- Run gas, propane, and diesel-powered equipment just in well-ventilated outdoor areas to prevent carbon dioxide buildup.
- Be conscious of asbestos poisoning. Do not enter areas where asbestos might have been used as a building material.
Exposure to Chemical
- When coming into your house following a flood, know about possible chemical hazards that floodwaters might have carried.
- Do not move propane tanks as they could cause a fire or burst.
- Should you see automobile batteries in floodwaters, do not get near them to prevent electric shock.
Gas and Electrical Dangers
- Never touch electric lines, wires, equipment, and fittings during and after a flood.
- Do not walk or drive through floodwater if downed power lines are inside.
- Never enter your house if the primary power switch wasn’t turned off prior to flooding. Wait till a qualified electrician has announced your house safe before re-entering.
- Evacuate your house when you detect or odor gas and notify the gas business.
Debris
- In the wake of a flood, all children of debris might be potentially harmful.
To find out more about home flood security, check out the way to shield your house from floods and everything to do following a basement flooding. For flooding water damage repair and mold remediation support, speak to your regional PuroClean office or visit puroclean.com to learn more.