Avian Flu Diary: Harvey: Downgraded, But Far From Over

#12,721

Although we won't get a good idea of the scale and scope of Harvey's destruction for a few more hours - based on the live streaming from storm chasers hunkered down in Rockport as it came ashore last night - this storm was truly a CAT 4 at landfall.

And that means a lot of people may be forced to fend for themselves, or rely on neighbors and friends - perhaps for days - until help can arrive. A reminder of the importance of individual, family, and community preparedness.

This morning, the NHC has downgraded the storm to a CAT 1, but all indications are it will linger in the region as a storm, then as a depression, dropping heavy rain for several more days. Thirty inches of rain are possible in some areas.

After the rains end, flood waters will be slow to recede, and they can leave behind a multitude of hidden dangers. Downed electrical lines, dangerous debris, weakened and compromised structures, and even displaced wildlife can pose ongoing threats following the storm.

Not only do flood waters easily hide dangerous objects - like broken bottles, razor sharp metal sheeting, live electrical wires, and rusty nails – they can also harbor nasty viruses and bacteria, along with dangerous wildlife.

A review, therefore, of some of those threats and how to avoid them:

First, many people may find themselves without electrical power, Internet or even cell phone service for days, or possibly even weeks. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy left some parts of the Northeast without power for a week or longer, while Katrina took out the power for well over a month in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi.

While most people will have battery operated flashlights or LED lanterns (no candles, please!) for lighting, many people can expect to lose perishable food items as freezers and fridges begin to lose their chill.

The USDA maintains a Food Safety and Inspection website with a great deal of consumer information about how to protect your food supplies during an emergency, and how to tell when to discard food that may no longer be safe to consume.

A Consumer's Guide to Food Safety: Severe Storms and Hurricanes

    Note: This text-only version of the Guide has been optimized for accessibility. The illustrated PDF version (2.1MB) is recommended for printing.

        Power Outages
        Safety of Food in Containers Exposed to Flood Waters
        Removing Odors from Refrigerators & Freezers
        Refrigerator Foods
        Frozen Food
        Food Safety Contacts for Areas Affected by Severe Storms and Hurricanes

    FOOD SAFETY DURING AN EMERGENCY

    Did you know that a flood, fire, national disaster, or the loss of power from high winds, snow, or ice could jeopardize the safety of your food? Knowing how to determine if food is safe and how to keep food safe will help minimize the potential loss of food and reduce the risk of foodborne illness. This Consumer's Guide will help you make the right decisions for keeping your family safe during an emergency.

Another common risk that comes when dealing with power outages is the use of generators, and improvised cooking or heating methods, which if done improperly can result in (preventable) Carbon Monoxide poisonings.

In Carbon Monoxide: A Stealthy Killer I wrote in depth on the issue, but this brief video from the CDC will provide you with an overview.

CO poisoning should not to be underestimated. It is colorless, odorless, and often induces a state of lethargy which prevents people from realizing they are being slowly poisoned. After every major storm we see numerous deaths and injuries from CO poisoning.

Chainsaw accidents also figure prominently after many weather-related disasters, as many people with little experience find themselves clearing driveways and rooftops of fallen branches. The CDC maintains a chainsaw safety web page:

Preventing Chain Saw Injuries During Tree Removal After a Disaster

Each year, approximately 36,000 people are treated in hospital emergency departments for injuries from using chain saws. The potential risk of injury increases after hurricanes and other natural disasters, when chain saws are widely used to remove fallen or partially fallen trees and tree branches.

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Flooding, or standing water can provide its own set of challenges, as it can easily become contaminated with chemicals and sewage. The CDC provides a web page on these threats as well. Often, cases of Vibrio vulnificus infection (see Vulnerable To Vibrio) will spike following coastal flooding events.

Flood Waters or Standing Waters

Health Risks

Flood waters and standing waters pose various risks, including infectious diseases, chemical hazards, and injuries.

Infectious Diseases expanded

For more detailed information, see CDC’s Infectious Disease After a Disaster page.

Diarrheal Diseases

Wound Infections

Other Health Effects

Chemical Hazards

Injuries

Cleanup of Flood Water
When returning to your home after a flooding emergency, be aware that flood water may contain sewage. For more information on how to protect yourself and your family, visit CDC’s Flood Water After a Disaster or Emergency.

More Information

CDC. After a Flood

CDC. Prevent Illness and Injury After a Disaster

Ready.gov. Floods

In the aftermath of a storm it is important to realize that you, your family, or your neighbors may find yourself suffering from the psychological effects of the disaster.

Four years ago, in Sandy 1 Year Later: Coping With The Aftermath, we looked at some of the lingering effects of New England’s brush with that storm, and in 2015 the CDC held a COCA Call: Understanding The Mental Health Impact Of Hurricane Sandy.

While the psychological impact of a major disaster can never be fully prevented, individual, family, and business preparedness can go a long ways towards reducing the impact of any disaster.

The National Center For PTSD provides guidance - including videos - on how to provide Psychological First Aid.

Psychological First Aid: Field Operations Guide

Psychological First Aid
For Disaster Responders

Developed jointly with the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, PFA is an evidence-informed modular approach for assisting people in the immediate aftermath of disaster and terrorism: to reduce initial distress, and to foster short and long-term adaptive functioning.

A small reminder that in the wake of a major disaster not all wounds bleed, not all fractures will show up on an X-ray, and that the best treatment won't always be found inside your first aid kit.

Lastly, September is National Preparedness Month, and once again this year AFD is proud to lend support to this important topic. But as Hurricane Harvey shows, disasters can happen anytime, and often with little or no warning.

The time to prepare is always before a threat appears on the horizon. Wherever you are, the time to prepare is now.

To become better prepared as an individual, family, business owner, or community to deal with all types of disasters, I would encourage you to visit the following preparedness sites.