Danger posed by flooding

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
Human and livestock waste, household waste, medical and industrial waste, physical dangers, and various animals are all potentially found in floodwaters. Contact with any of them can lead to rashes, infections, gastrointestinal illness, tetanus and bodily harm, according to Lori Bickford, Weston County’s public health nurse. Floodwaters should be avoided at all costs, whether there is a lot of water or just a little, Bickford said. That caution also goes for floodwaters entering homes and other buildings because of possible mold growth. 
 “It is important to protect yourself from exposure to floodwater, regardless of the source of contamination,” Bickford said. “The best way to protect yourself is to stay out of the water all together.” 
Potentially contaminated water includes any rivers, streams or lakes that floodwaters have entered. 
Not only should people avoid playing in the floodwater, Bickford said, but any inanimate object that comes in contact with potentially contaminated water should be avoided until it’s been properly disinfected. Those who must enter the water, Bickford suggested, should wear rubber boots, rubber gloves and goggles to help protect from injury or illness. 
Any wounds on people who entered floodwaters should be cleaned, and their hands should be cleaned thoroughly, Bickford said. 
Medical attention should be sought immediately, according to Bickford, if a wound becomes red, swollen or oozing; if an object becomes embedded in a wound; if the wound is at high risk for infection (such as dog bites or puncture wounds from dirty objects); or any sign of serious illness. 
“People should also protect themselves from animal and insect bites,” Bickford said. “Floodwater can displace animals, insects and reptiles.” 
Other potential dangers are moving propane tanks, working with car batteries or other electrical hazards in the water. 
“Use insulated gloves and avoid coming in contact with any acid that may have spilled from the damaged car battery,” Bickford said. “Shut off electrical power and natural gas or propane tanks in your home to avoid fire, electrocution or explosion, and never touch a fallen power line.” 
Floodwater entering the home or any other building increases the chance of mold, and mold has the potential to cause several health problems, Bickford said. 
“Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay-fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes and skin rash (dermatitis),” Bickford said. “
She said that allergic reactions to mold are common and can be immediate or delayed. 
“Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold,” Bickford said. “In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs of both mold-allergic and nonallergic people.” 
Health effects related to mold are ongoing.
“If you have a mold problem — act quickly,” Bickford said. “Mold damages what it grows on and the longer it grows, the more damage it can cause.” 
How the mold is handled depends on a number of factors, with one consideration being the size of the mold problem. 
“If the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet, in most cases, you can handle the job yourself, following the guidelines. . . .,” Bickford said, “However, if there has been a lot of water damage, and/or the mold growth covers more than 10 square feet, consult the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guide ‘Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings.’” 
Although the guide is focused on schools and commercial buildings, Bickford said, the document can still be applied to other building types. The guide is available at epa.gov/mold. 
Any contractor chosen to provide mold cleanup services should have experience in cleaning up mold. 
According to Weston County Homeland Security Director Gilbert Nelson, local resources are available for aiding in mold detection and cleanup through his office at the Weston County Courthouse.