Flood Related Issues

A flood can be a devastating event and the disaster left in its wake can be two-fold. In the short-term, when a flood strikes, immediate damage is often wrought upon a community's properties, structures, citizens and their possessions. A flood can have devastating long-term effects for an area as well, by posing health risks and affecting the environment in several negative ways.

Immediate Personal Needs

• A flood can wipe out a family's home and possessions quickly. It can also leave the home without power and unable to be lived in. As the first step during a flood, ensure that your entire family and all pets are safely out of the house and have a place to stay on dry land. If there is time, pack clothing and necessities for the family, such as important medicines. Communities around a flooded area that are not affected usually have shelters set up where victims can receive food, shelter and clothing.

Health and Injury Issues

• The risk of injury is high during and after a flood. If water is standing across a roadway, do not attempt to drive through it. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, trying to drive through a flooded area is the top cause of flood-related injury or death. Power outages occur often during floods and power lines are sometimes downed. Be on the lookout for live, downed wires that can electrocute. When using a home generator during a power outage, keep it outside in a ventilated place. Carbon monoxide from a generator can kill. Other health risks include bacteria in standing water and in unsafe drinking water; boil all water before using it.

Clean up

• The clean up following a flood can be overwhelming. Safety precautions must always be taken. Do not attempt to get into your home if water is still standing; flood water is often contaminated. Seek professional help if necessary for tasks like restarting a water well. If the well is flooded, do not use its water and do not try to restart the pump as the risk of electrocution is high. After the water has receded and clean up is underway, always wear rubber gloves and a mask because mold quickly becomes a hazard in a flooded house. Any structure that seems unsafe should not be entered.

Agricultural and Environmental Concerns

• A flood can bring to a halt the day-to-day operation of a farm and the effects can be far-reaching. Fields full of crops are sometimes washed away or destroyed by standing flood waters. Barns and safety structures for farm animals can be destroyed. Stacks of dry hay and silos full of dry grain to feed the animals are rendered useless by contaminated flood waters getting inside. These agricultural crises drive up food prices or make certain food unavailable. Environmentally, contaminated water can make people ill with contagious diseases like typhoid or hepatitis A or E.