HURRICANE 2001
Survival Guide II

Post Hurricane Refresher Tips

Disaster Response Ministries would like to share some reminders about post-hurricane conditions. Most Florida residents have experienced tropical storms or hurricanes, but it doesn't hurt to remind ourselves about the resulting conditions!

Safe drinking water includes bottled, boiled, or treated water. Local health departments can make specific recommendations for boiling or treating water in your area, but here are some general rules:

• Do not use contaminated water to wash dishes, brush your teeth, wash and prepare food, or make ice.

• If you use bottled water, know where it came from. Otherwise, water should be boiled or treated until your supply is tested and found safe.

• Boiling water kills harmful bacteria and parasites. Bringing water to a rolling boil for 1 minute will kill most organisms.

• Water may be treated with chlorine or iodine tablets. Mix six drops (1/8 tsp.) of unscented, ordinary household chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Mix thoroughly, let stand for thirty minutes. However, this treatment will not kill parasitic organisms.

Water containers should be rinsed with a bleach solution before reusing them. Use water storage tanks and other containers with caution.

Do not eat food that may have come into contact with contaminated floodwater. Undamaged, commercially canned foods can be saved if you remove the can labels, thoroughly wash the cans, and then disinfect them with a solution consisting on one cup of bleach in five gallons of water. Re-label your cans, including expiration dates. Food containers with screw-caps, snap-lids, crimped caps (soda pop bottles), twist caps, flip tops, snap-open and home canned foods should be discarded if they have come into contact with floodwater because they cannot be disinfected. For infants, use only pre-prepared canned baby formula. Do not use powdered formulas prepared with treated water.

If you will be without power for a long period:

• Ask friends to store your frozen foods if they have electricity.

• See if freezer space is available in a store, church, school, or commercial freezer that has electrical service.

• Use dry ice if available. Twenty-five pounds of dry ice will keep a ten-cubic-foot freezer below freezing for three to four days. Use care when handling dry ice, and wear dry, heavy gloves to avoid injury.

Your refrigerator will keep foods cool for about four hours without power if it is unopened. Add block or dry ice if it will be off longer than four hours. Thawed food can usually be eaten if it is still "refrigerator cold", or re-frozen if it still contains ice crystals. To be safe, remember, "when in doubt, throw it out". Discard any food that has been at room temperature for two hours or more, and any food that has an unusual odor, color, or texture.

Remember to practice basic hygiene during the emergency period. Always wash your hands with soap and water that has been boiled or disinfected:

• Before preparing or eating food.

• After toilet use.

• After participating in cleanup activities.

• After handling articles contaminated with floodwater or sewage.

If there is flooding along with the storm, the waters may contain fecal material from overflowing sewage systems and agricultural and industrial waste. There is risk of disease from eating or drinking anything contaminated with floodwater. If you have open cuts or sores that will be exposed to floodwater, keep them as clean as possible by washing then with soap and applying an antibiotic ointment to discourage infection. If a wound develops redness, swelling, or drainage, seek immediate medical attention.

Do not allow children to play in floodwater areas. Wash children's hands frequently (always before meals), and do not allow children to play with floodwater-contaminated toys. You can disinfect toys using a solution of one cup of bleach in five gallons of water.

Rain and flooding may lead to an increase in mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are most active at sunrise and sunset. To protect yourself, use screens on dwellings, and wear clothes with long sleeves and long pants. Insect repellents that contain DEET are very effective. Be sure to read all instructions before using DEET, and care must be taken when using it on small children. To control mosquito populations, drain all standing water left in open containers outside your home.

The days and weeks after a hurricane are going to be rough. In addition to your physical health, you need to take some time to consider your mental health as well. Remember that some sleeplessness, anxiety, anger, hyperactivity, mild depression or lethargy are normal and may go away with time. If you feel any of these symptoms acutely, seek counseling.

Remember that children need extra care and attention before, during, and after the storm. Be sure to locate a favorite toy or game for you child before the storm arrives to help maintain his/her sense of security. 

The local health department will help you find the local resources, including hospitals or health care providers that you may need.

If power lines are lying on the ground or dangling near the ground, do not touch the lines. Notify your utility company as soon as possible. Do not attempt to move or repair the power lines.

Do not drive through standing water if downed power lines are in the water. If a power line falls across your car while you are driving, continue to drive away from the line. If the engine stalls, do not turn off the ignition. Stay in your car and wait for emergency personnel. Do not allow anyone other than emergency personnel to approach your vehicle.

Wild or stray domestic animals can pose a danger. Remember, most animals are disoriented and displaced, too. Do not corner an animal. If an animal must be removed, contact your local animal control authorities.

If you are bitten by any animal, seek immediate medical attention. If you are bitten by a snake, first try to accurately identify the type of snake so that, if poisonous: the correct anti-venom can be administered. Do not cut the wound or attempt to suck the venom out.

Certain animals may carry rabies. Although the virus is rare, care should be taken to avoid contact with stray animals and rodents. Health departments can provide information on the types of animals that carry rabies in your area.

Rats may also be a problem. Take care to secure all food supplies, and remove any animal carcasses in the vicinity by contacting your local animal control authorities.

Nine of every 10 hurricane fatalities are drownings associated with swiftly moving waters. People who enter moving water with their cars, or who get on boats on lakes or bays when a hurricane strikes the area are at grave risk of drowning, regardless of their ability to swim. Even very shallow water that is moving swiftly can be deadly. Vehicles do not provide adequate protection. Vehicles can be swept away or may break down in moving water. Be alert and follow hazard warnings on roadways or those broadcast by media. Police and public works departments should be contacted for up-to-date information regarding safe roadways.

Floodwaters and high winds may have moved or buried hazardous chemical containers.
Contact your local fire department about inspecting and removing hazardous chemical containers. Avoid inhaling chemical fumes.

If any propane tanks (whether gas grills or household tanks) are discovered, do not attempt to move them yourself. These represent a very real danger of fire or explosion. Contact your local fire or police department, or the State Fire Marshal's office.

Car batteries, while flooded, may still contain an electrical charge and should be removed with extreme caution by using insulated gloves. Avoid coming in contact with any acid that may have spilled from a damaged car battery.

The Florida Conference Disaster Response Team is working to help, prepare and respond. It keeps in close contact with local churches, officials, and organizations to unite community efforts and foster close relationships. The United Methodist Church makes every effort to respond to a disaster situation as soon as possible. 

Disaster response efforts in the conference continue throughout the year with training, awareness, and food and supply collections to the supply depot in High Springs. Disaster Response Ministries maintains a large truck for transporting goods. If you would like more information on how you can help, contact Bill or Lisa Rhan (386) 454-7775. Financial contributions can be made through your local church, designated "Conference Disaster Response #717." We hope you have a safe season.

"Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these, you have done it unto me." (Mt. 25:40)

(Post Hurricane Refresher Tips Excerpted from Center for Disease Control Web Site)