New Brunswickers who live in flood-prone
areas need not be caught off guard during flood season.
Although it may not always be possible to safeguard against
floods, it is possible to take precautionary measures to
minimize the possible health risks of flooding.
The best way to minimize the health risks associated with
flooding is to prepare an evacuation plan well in advance
of a flood.
This includes:
Prepackaging medications
- Making plans to relocate family
members, farm animals and domestic pets
- Advising the Emergency Measures
Organization of any disabled or bedridden family members
who may need special assistance in an emergency
- Consulting with the Department of
the Environment about dealing with hazardous products,
such as pesticides. Special effort should also be made
to make sure oil and gasoline tanks are secure.
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| Iroquois
River [August 14, 2004] |
Green
River [August 14, 2004] |
Protecting Yourself When Cleaning
Your Home
For personal protection during clean-up,
wear rubber gloves and other protective clothing. Avoid
direct skin contact with contaminated material. Practice
good personal hygiene (i.e. wash hands before eating or
smoking) and change outer clothing before entering a "clean"
residence.
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Water Contamination
Private water supplies affected by
flooding should not be used until they have been disinfected
and tested. Until tests indicate a safe water supply, water
for drinking and personal use should be brought to a rolling
boil for at least 1 minute and then stored in clean
covered containers. Communicate with your local Public Health
Office for information on how to proceed to have your water
tested. The following link provides information on how to
disinfect your water well and indoor plumbing: http://www.gnb.ca/0009/0371/0010/index-e.asp.
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Mould and Mildew
To avoid the health hazards of mildew and mould, water soaked
walls and insulation should be removed, and the space and
studding allowed to dry thoroughly. Walls constructed of
gyproc, plaster or wood will dry out in time but insulation
in these walls is no longer effective. As insulation becomes
water soaked the weight causes it to settle and compact
at the bottom, leaving a large portion of the wall no longer
insulated.
Caution:
Obtain approval from assessors, insurance agents and other
relevant agencies before discarding or destroying any
furniture or equipment.
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Foods Affected by Flooding
To avoid the health hazards of food
contamination, all perishable goods, vacuum-packed foods
and any other foods affected by flooding should be thrown
out. Commercially-canned food properly identified by labels,
containers which show no leaks, swelling or rusting at joints
or edges should be thoroughly washed and dried. Vacuum-packed
foods pose a special hazard due to dried waste material
inside crevices and covers. They should be discarded.
Home preserves, meats, fish or dairy
products should be discarded as unsafe if they have been
affected by flood water. Frozen foods left in a freezer
will stay frozen for a few days without electricity if the
door is kept shut. These products can be refrozen if ice
crystals are still present and the food has not been exposed
to flood waters. All perishable food left in a refrigerator
more than 24 hours without electricity should be discarded.
Cooking and eating utensils should
be cleaned of all deposits, washed with a household detergent
or soap and rinsed for at least two full minutes in a mixture
containing 15 millilitres (one table spoon) of liquid bleach
in 4.5 litres (one gallon) of water. Utensils used for infant
feeding should be boiled before use.
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Refrigerators, Freezers, Stoves
and Other Appliances
They should be cleaned in the following
way:
- Ensure electrical power is turned
off.
- Clean the unit thoroughly with a
detergent solution, rinse with clean water that has been
previously boiled, then wash with a solution containing
one-half cup of Javex or similar product in nine litres
(two gallons) of water.
- Allow to dry with door kept open.
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Hazardous Products
Household hazardous products, such
as pesticides, can also cause problems. Contaminated items
and surfaces should also be cleaned. Although small amounts
of household hazardous products or agricultural products
can be placed in plastic bags and discarded with domestic
garbage, significant quantities should be handled differently,
under the advice of the Department of the Environment.
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Basements and Rooms
The most important element when cleaning
basements and rooms is the use of good soap or detergent,
"elbow grease" and lots of hot water.
Walls, solid floors and ceilings should
be thoroughly scrubbed with a good detergent or soap and
water, then mopped with a mixture of 120 millilitres (one-half
cup) of liquid bleach in nine litres (two gallons) of water.
Water and wastes can be removed by pumping, pails, shovels,
etc.
Wastes should be buried at least 15
metres (50 feet) away from the source of any water supply.
Lime may be used to cover wastes before covering with soil.
This advice applies to all disposal of wastes in the following
section. Oil or petroleum products are usually removed with
Varsol or similar products.
After cleaning, open doors and windows
to air thoroughly and help the drying process.
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Oil Clean-Up
An oil spill which occurs in a house
could create a contamination problem that can be difficult
to correct. Peat moss can be used to remove floating oil.
If only finished basement walls have been affected, the
odor can be eliminated by removing and discarding the wall
covering, studding, insulation and any other permeable material.
Caution should be taken in using electrical equipment during
cleaning since the fumes could ignite and cause an explosion.
Dispersants should also be avoided in cases where oil tanks
have been ruptured.
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Household Furnishings
Solid wood or metal furniture can be
cleaned with a household detergent solution, wiping clean
and then wiping dry. Furniture should be left to dry outside
before furniture polish may be applied where needed. Upholstered
furniture and mattresses affected by flooding should not
be used.
