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The American Red Cross urges
people to use extreme caution to prevent injury in the aftermath of
the flooding.
Here are some safety tips.
What to do after a flood:
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Stay out of any building if
flood waters remain around the building. Flood waters often
undermine foundations, causing sinking. Floors can crack or
break and buildings can collapse.
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Avoid entering ANY building
(home, business, or other) before local officials have said it
is safe to do so. Buildings may have hidden damage that makes
them unsafe. Gas leaks or electric or waterline damage can
create additional problems.
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Report broken utility lines
to the appropriate authorities. Reporting potential hazards will
get the utilities turned off as quickly as possible, preventing
further hazard and injury. Check with your utility company now
about where broken lines should be reported.
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Avoid smoking inside
buildings. Smoking in confined areas can cause fires.
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When entering buildings, use
extreme caution. Building damage may have occurred where you
least expect it. Carefully watch every step you take.
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Wear sturdy shoes. The most
common injury following a disaster is cut feet.
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Use battery-powered lanterns
or flashlights when examining buildings. Battery-powered
lighting is the safest and easiest, preventing fire hazard for
the user, occupants, and building.
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Examine walls, floors, doors,
staircases, and windows to make sure that the building is not in
danger of collapsing.
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Inspect foundations for
cracks or other damage. Cracks and damage to a foundation can
render a building uninhabitable.
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Look for fire hazards. There
may be broken or leaking gas lines, flooded electrical circuits,
or submerged furnaces or electrical appliances. Flammable or
explosive materials may travel from upstream. Fire is the most
frequent hazard following floods.
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Check for gas leaks. If you
smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and
quickly leave the building. Turn off the gas at the outside main
valve if you can and call the gas company from a neighbor's
home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned
back on by a professional.
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Look for electrical system
damage. If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you
smell burning insulation, turn off the electricity at the main
fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get
to the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician first
for advice. Electrical equipment should be checked and dried
before being returned to service.
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Check for sewage and
waterline damage. If you suspect sewage lines are damaged, avoid
using the toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are
damaged, contact the water company and avoid using water from
the tap. You can obtain safe water from undamaged water heaters
or by melting ice cubes.
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Watch out for animals,
especially poisonous snakes, that may have come into buildings
with the flood waters. Use a stick to poke through debris. Flood
waters flush snakes and many animals out of their homes.
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Watch for loose plaster,
drywall, and ceilings that could fall.
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Take pictures of the damage,
both of the building and its contents, for insurance claims.
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Help a neighbor who may
require special assistance – infants, elderly people, and people
with disabilities. Elderly people and people with disabilities
may require additional assistance. People who care for them or
who have large families may need additional assistance in
emergency situations.
After returning home:
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Throw
away food that has come in contact with flood waters. Some
canned foods may be salvageable. If the cans are dented or
damaged, throw them away. Food contaminated by flood waters can
cause severe infections.
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If water is of questionable
purity, boil or add bleach, and distill drinking water before
using.
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See information on water
treatment at
http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_8_,00.html
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Wells inundated by flood
waters should be pumped out and the water tested for purity
before drinking. If in doubt, call your local public health
authority. Ill health effects often occur when people drink
water contaminated with bacteria and germs.
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Pump out flooded basements
gradually (about one-third of the water per day) to avoid
structural damage. If the water is pumped completely in a short
period of time, pressure from water-saturated soil on the
outside could cause basement walls to collapse.
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Service damaged septic tanks,
cesspools, pits, and leaching systems as soon as possible.
Damaged sewage systems are health hazards.
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