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LA Health Department Warns of Flooding Dangers

Monday, November 9, 2009 - 12:04pm

Baton Rouge - The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals advises people to avoid contact with floodwaters following Tropical Storm Ida. Residents of areas affected by Ida are advised to keep the following tips in mind if flooding has occurred in their area:

1. Keep an Eye Out for Rising Waters

Weather radar is showing heavy, or extremely heavy, rainfall in parts of the area. This will cause street flooding. Just a few inches of moving water can be enough to sweep you off of your feet. Water only a few feet deep can cause a vehicle to float off the roadway, so do not drive or walk into flooded streets. In the dark, it will be even more difficult to tell how deep water is.

Please stay inside. Do not make things more difficult for rescue personnel than what they already are. Continue to monitor your local TV and radio stations for further details.

2. Don't Wade or Swim in Contaminated Floodwaters

There is always the possibility that heavy rains or other major storm activity will cause sewage treatment systems (both community and residential) to fail. Sewage disposal ponds and cattle and swine lagoons can also overflow, potentially exposing area residents to disease-causing bacteria.



3. Septic Tanks Could be Affected by Floodwater



· Do not use the plumbing system if sewage is backing up into the house.

· Try to reduce the amount of debris entering the septic tank and plumbing systems.

· Avoid contact with the sewage from malfunctioning septic tanks - raw sewage is a public health problem and can cause disease.

· Avoid contact with electrical wiring and electrical components of mechanical sewage treatment systems.



4. Cleaning Homes Contaminated with Sewage




Porous, soft or spongy materials such as carpet, upholstered furniture, sheet rock and bedding that are soaked by floodwater contaminated with sewage contain harmful microorganisms, which can reproduce in these materials to numbers that can present a health risk after only a few hours.

If conditions are favorable, microscopic organisms such as bacteria and fungi can multiply after the initial cleanup has been completed. People who live and work in contaminated buildings run the risk of developing or worsening potentially serious illnesses such as asthma and allergies.


The following guidelines are recommended for cleanup activities:






