#NatlPrep: After Dorian Passes

Note: September is National Preparedness Month . Follow this year’s campaign on Twitter by searching for the #NatlPrep hash tag.
 
This month, I’ll be rerunning some edited and updated older preparedness essays, along with some new ones.

 #14,280


Although its exact path is still uncertain, over the next 5 or 6 days millions of residents along the Southeastern coast of the  United States are probably going to be impacted by major Hurricane Dorian.

While the winds will die down relatively quickly, and the rains will stop, the destruction of property and the disruption in people's lives will linger far longer.  For many, we are talking weeks or even months.

The reason I preach preparedness is less about the 12 or 24 hours of the storm, and more for the days and weeks that follow.  A time when the power may be out or only intermittently available, potable water may not flow from your tap, and staples such as gasoline, food, and even prescription medicines may be difficult to obtain.

Those in harm’s way who have extra food & water, provisions for emergency lighting, a first aid kit, an emergency weather radio, and a family emergency plan are likely to fare far better than those who did not prepare.

 
After the storm has passed, flood waters are often slow to recede, and they can leave behind a multitude of dangers.  Downed electrical lines, dangerous debris, weakened and compromised structures, and even displaced wildlife (think : alligators, snakes, rats, etc.) 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.

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 hours, or possibly even days after the storm has passed. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy left some parts of the Northeast without power for a week or longer, while Hurricane Maria left most of Puerto Rico dark for six months. 

For more on ways to deal with long-term power outages, see my recent blog post #NatlPrep: For A Brighter Day (and Night).

While most will (hopefully) have battery operated flashlights or LED lanterns (no candles, please!) for lighting, people should also consider they may lose perishable food items as freezers and fridges begin to lose their chill.

My most vivid memory of standing in the French Quarter of New Orleans a few weeks after Hurricane Katrina was the staggering number of refrigerators and freezers dragged out to the curbs - filled with rotting food - waiting to be hauled away.

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 rooftop of fallen branches. The CDC maintains a chainsaw safety webpage:

Preventing Chain Saw Injuries During Tree Removal After a Disaster

Stay Safe

• Wear proper protective clothing and glasses.
• Choose the proper size of chain saw to match the job.
• Operate, adjust, and maintain the saw according to manufacturer’s instructions.
• Take extra care in cutting “spring poles” trees or branches that have been bent, twisted, hung up on, or caught under another object during a high wind.
• Be sure that bystanders are at a safe distance from cutting activities.
• Check around the tree or pole for hazards, such as nails, power lines, or cables, before cutting.

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 webpage 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.

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

And last on our list, 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.

Six 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 cannot 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 disaster not all wounds bleed, not all fractures show on an X-ray, and that the best treatment doesn't always come from inside your first aid kit.

Note:  You should try and download and save much of the information from these websites onto your computer or smart phone before the storm - or even print some of it out - so you’ll have it even if there are disruptions in your power or Internet access.