Water safety after the flood

By Heather

by Heather

While our reservoirs dip to dangerously low levels out in California (short showers, no water at restaurants, etc.), the rest of the country has had very high levels of precipitation this winter and spring and that means … FLOODING.

Flooding can happen because of a long steady rainfall or just a particularly intense one. My husband tells a story about his Palo Alto home flooding because a “100 year flood” made the small creek in town overflow (it may have been a 1 in 100 chance, but not that morning!)

I’m going to share with you some great tips about water safety and one note of flood rookie common sense: keep your small children where you can see them or where they can’t hurt themselves at all times. If a crib is a safe place in your home, fill it with books and toys and use it liberally.

Now for those safe water tips … whether it’s after a hurricane, tornado, heavy snow melt or regular old April showers, UL and the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (or FLASH) recommend consumers consider these five before coming into contact with flood water – my comments follow the tips from the pros:

Assume that the water is not safe. Use properly stored water or boil your tap water. (Heather note: Keep your large stockpots handy and at the ready. Fit as much good water as you can back in your fridge.)
Boil water at a roiling rate for 10 minutes if a boil order is issued in your community. (H note: Make sure you drink only the boiled water. Pour it back and forth into clean containers to improve the taste.)
Control standing water and mosquitoes by applying a larvae control product to standing water or a film of vegetable oil to the surface. (H note: That sounds yucky, but nobody wants an infestation – trust me on that one!)
Eliminate standing water, if at all possible. Adequate drainage outside, adjacent to, and especially under your home, is essential. Standing water under a home can cause high humidity levels inside and cause floors to warp and buckle. (H note: do your best to protect your home and your stuff, but remember to focus on the people and safety in such a disaster.)
Be aware of potential pest problems in your area, such as mice, rats, insects or snakes that may have “come with the storm.” (‘Nuf said.)

For more information and help on water safety after a flood, see some of the great ideas from UL and FLASH.