Louisiana - DHH advises caution to residents in flooded areas

[Pathfinder]

Department
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
DHH Advises Caution to Residents in Flooded Areas

Thursday, March 10, 2016 | Contact: Media & Communications: Phone: 225.342.1532, E-mail: dhhinfo@la.gov
Baton Rouge, La.?Louisiana is currently experiencing floods due to severe weather in many regions throughout the state. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) advises all Louisiana residents to be aware of the dangers flood waters pose and to take all appropriate precautions.
Residents are reminded that, due to the sudden nature of rain-related floods, not all flooded roadways will be marked and that local emergency resources may be under strain. Deaths have already occurred in Louisiana as individuals have either ignored posted signs regarding flood waters or entered flood waters where signs were not posted. These include an adult male in Bienville Parish, and adult male in Ouachita Parish and a 6-year-old child in Ouachita Parish.
Below are some useful guidelines and additional resources for all Louisianans regarding flooding, including information on where to get emergency updates.
What to Do if Your Community Experiences Flooding:

• Stay Out of Flood Water
  • Flood water may be mixed with sewage or other dangerous contaminants. Showering or otherwise washing after touching flood water is necessary. Clothes that come into contact with floodwater must be washed with hot, soapy water immediately afterward. Make sure children stay away from flood waters.
  • Do not drive through flood water. Water only a few feet deep can cause a vehicle to float or stall.
  • Flood water may also hide other dangers, such as exposed electrical wires or sharp objects.

• Stay Tuned
  • Keep aware of your situation through local radio or TV broadcasts. Keep an eye out for boil advisories for public water or other public health alerts. Follow the guidance of emergency authorities.

• Know That Septic Tanks May Be Affected
  • Avoid using a septic tank if its drain field is underwater.

• Take Extra Care Regarding Wildlife
  • The threat posed by wild animals and insects may be more significant during times of flooding. Venomous snakes, alligators, leeches, ants and mosquitoes are all potentially threatening creatures that you may encounter during a flood.

After the Flood:

• Stay Aware of Flood Water Contamination
  • Public drinking supplies may not be safe in the aftermath of a flood. Keep aware of boil advisories and other public health alerts through your local radio and TV broadcasts. At least 15 water systems are currently under a boil advisory due to the weather. If you have questions about the safety of your water, contact your water system.
  • If you have well water, you may need to disinfect your well and have it tested for contamination.

• Recovery and Cleaning Up
  • If floodwater entered your home, you must clean and disinfect your home and any items that came into contact with floodwaters. Take precautions when doing so, especially if your home experienced a backup of sewage. Wear personal protective equipment, including rubber boots and waterproof gloves. Porous items that absorbed flood waters, including drywall, carpets, upholstered furniture and curtains may need to be disposed of entirely or professionally cleaned.
  • Any food that came into contact with flood water, including canned goods, must be thrown out.

For more information from the Department of Health and Hospitals on flood water safety or other emergency efforts, visit the websites below.

• http://www.dhh.state.la.us/index.cfm/page/308/n/176
• www.dhh.la.gov/emergency

Additional resources are available from the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness athttp://gohsep.la.gov/default.aspx.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state residents.To learn more about DHH, visit www.dhh.la.gov. For up-to-date health information, news and emergency updates, follow DHH's Twitter account and Facebook.

http://dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/newsroom/detail/3736

[Pathfinder]

Department
PUBLIC HEALTH | EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS | ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY | SANITARIAN/FOOD SAFETY | DRINKING WATER | RETAIL FOOD | SANITARIAN

Health Department Advises Residents and Restaurants in Flood-Affected Areas

Precautions for private well water safety, restaurant food safety, death update

Tuesday, March 15, 2016 | Contact: Media & Communications: Phone: 225.342.1532, E-mail: dhhinfo@la.gov

Baton Rouge, La.—The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals offers advice to Louisiana residents with private drinking water wells and to restaurants that are in areas affected by last week's storm system that caused flooding throughout the state. Also, a fourth death that is attributed to the storm has been confirmed by the Natchitoches Parish Coroner.

Private Drinking Water Wells: Bacterial and Chemical Contamination

If a homeowner's private water well was flooded during or after the storm, the owner should disinfect the well using a chlorine bleach solution following recommended Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. The owner should then flush the well.

Fuel, chemical releases and spills can occur during flood events and enter private wells. Disinfection described above will not provide protection from pesticides, heavy metals and other chemicals. If your water smells like fuel or chemicals, do not drink it until it has been tested by a certified lab. Until you know the water is safe, use bottled water or some other safe supply of water.

If well owners wish to have their water well tested for bacterial or chemical contamination, there are private laboratories that are certified to test drinking water samples and will perform this service for a fee. Owners should wait to submit water samples for testing until they have disinfected and flushed the well. A listing of state-certified drinking water laboratories is available online. For bacterial testing, seehere and for chemical testing, see here. For more information on private well water testing, see this DHH publication: Private Water Well Testing in Louisiana.

You can call DHH at 1 (888) 293-7020 for more information or guidance on testing.

Restaurant Food Safety

Modified health inspections are available for restaurants and other retail food establishments in flooded areas of the state. An inspection is required for establishments that have experienced a power outage of four hours or longer or had flood water in their business. The Department of Health and Hospitals advises these businesses to contact the local parish sanitarians for this modified inspection prior to re-opening.

Health department sanitarians can assist in food destruction if necessary and provide documentation that may be useful for insurance purposes.

Sanitarians can also offer guidance regarding the safety of a business's remaining food inventory.
Restaurants are advised that DHH sanitarians are ready to assist and will make every attempt to have the modified inspections completed within 24 hours of the request.

Fourth Storm-Related Death Reported
The Natchitoches Parish Coroner has verified a fourth death as being related to the storm and flooding. On March 12 at approximately 8:55 p.m., the body of an older male was recovered near an overflowing dam that is part of Saline Bayou and Black Lake near Clarence, LA. The coroner reports that three individuals in a boat were moving items from a flooded residence. The boat began to take on water and only two of the individuals were able to swim to safety. The victim never surfaced.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state residents. To learn more about DHH, visit www.dhh.la.gov. For up-to-date health information, news and emergency updates, follow DHH's Twitter account and Facebook.

http://dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/newsroom/detail/3746

[Pathfinder]

Department
PUBLIC HEALTH | EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS | ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Health Department Offers Tips for Home Mold Removal in Response to Recent Floods

Saturday, March 26, 2016 | Contact: Media & Communications: Phone: 225.342.1532, E-mail: dhhinfo@la.gov

Baton Rouge, La.—The Department of Health and Hospitals' Office of Public Health provides residents of flood-affected areas some basic guidelines for safe mold cleanup and removal.

Indoor mold growth typically happens when mold spores come in contact with wet areas, which can be prevalent in recently flooded homes. Signs of indoor mold growth include staining on surfaces, a musty odor, dark spots on or around vents, water stains and peeling or curling of vinyl floors or wallpaper.
Common reactions to mold are cough, congestion, runny nose, burning eyes, headaches, sneezing and sore throat. Children, pregnant women, older people and people with weakened immune systems may be more sensitive to mold than others.

"Most types of molds are not harmful to otherwise healthy people," said State Epidemiologist Dr. Raoult Ratard. "However, because mold can cause some health problems, particularly for people with asthma and allergies, it is best to avoid mold growth indoors and get rid of it as soon as it is found."

In most cases the area of mold growth is small (less than 10 square feet), and homeowners can clean it themselves. However, after severe weather events like the recent floods, residents should be aware that, if there has been a lot of water damage and/or mold growth that covers more than 10 square feet, a contactor and/or mold cleanup company may be needed. Professional help is also needed if the home's heating/venting/air conditioning system has mold growing inside of it or if the water/mold damage was caused by sewage or other contaminated water.

The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors can provide information about licensed mold removal professionals and can be reached at (225) 256-1392.
Steps to Clean Up Mold:

• Use personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, an N-95 breathing mask, eye goggles, long sleeves and pants when cleaning up mold. This is important because, during cleanup of mold, spores can be released into the air.
• Find and fix the moisture problem. If mold is removed without fixing the moisture problem, the mold will return.
• Shut off all heat or air conditioning to stop mold spores from spreading around the home or building. If possible, turn on a fan in a window to pull the air outdoors.
• Remove, bag and throw out materials, especially porous ones, that have heavy mold growth (e.g., ceiling tiles, leather, cloth, sheetrock, plaster, paneling, insulation, wood products, paper, carpet, padding, etc.)
• Use detergent in hot water and scrub the moldy area. Use a hard brush or cleaning pad on rough areas.
• Rinse the whole area with hot water. A wet-dry vacuum can be used to pick up extra water.
• Fully dry the area for two or three days. Raising the temperature and using dehumidifiers and fans will help.
• Vacuum your home, if possible, with a HEPA-filtered vacuum.

Steps To Prevent Mold Growth from Reoccurring:

• Fully dry wet building materials, furnishings and carpets within 48 hours of getting wet, if possible.
• Replace water-damaged items as soon as possible.
• Make sure that heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) systems are always running to keep the right amount of air flowing inside of the building.
• Keep indoor relative humidity below 60 percent (ideally, between 30 percent and 50 percent). Good airflow and dehumidifiers help to keep humidity low. These items are available at home supply stores.
• Check roofs, ceilings, walls, floors and carpets for water leaks, mold growth or musty odors.
• Fix broken roof gutters.
• Routinely replace air conditioner filters and clean drip pans.
• Make sure that stoves/ovens, bathrooms and clothes dryers are vented to the outside of the home, if possible.

For more information about returning home after floods or other disasters and emergencies, please visit www.dhh.la.gov/emergency.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state residents.To learn more about DHH, visit www.dhh.la.gov. For up-to-date health information, news and emergency updates, follow DHH's Twitter account and Facebook.

http://dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/newsroom/detail/3767