Storms are a regular cause of residential water damage in Lawrence, KS, each and every year. Once the storm passes, standing water is often left behind. You might find yourself tempted to wade through large puddles or let children and pets splash around in water left by a summer storm, but beware. Standing floodwater is dangerous in a number of ways and needs to be avoided at all costs. The following takes a look at the various types of hazards created by standing floodwaters and how to avoid them.
Disease
Is the danger of infectious disease a deterrent to playing in floodwater? It certainly needs to be. Standing floodwater is swarming with health hazards. Infectious diseases such as E. Coli, tuberculosis, encephalitis, norovirus, and West Nile virus are regularly found in floodwaters. The longer the water sits, the greater the risk. Flood water hanging around also increases the presence of disease-carrying mosquitos. In order to protect yourself from these health hazards, it’s important to take the following precautions:
- Stay away. Don’t touch the water or anything that’s come in contact with the water.
- Keep children and pets away.
- Practice careful hygiene by washing your hands or showering after contact.
- Disinfect anything that contacted the water with a solution of 1 teaspoon of bleach to one gallon of clean water.
- Don’t eat anything that’s touched the water. You’ll need to throw all food away, including canned goods.
- Be especially cautious about exposing open wounds to contaminated water.
- Wear long sleeves and use mosquito protection tools to avoid bites.
- Contact a doctor immediately if you or a member of your family becomes sick following contact with floodwater. These illnesses can spread quickly through your family and deserve rapid attention.
Other Dangers
Disease isn’t the only risk posed by standing floodwaters; other dangers lurk beneath the murky water. Any of the following might be present following a flood:
- Animals. You’re not the only family whose home is disrupted by floods. Many animals lose their homes after a storm and make standing water their new base. Be aware that there are likely animals and insects in the water and that it’s not safe to swim or wade with them.
- Objects. Fast-moving floodwaters cause extensive damage to property. Broken glass, sharp metal objects, splintered wood, and other hazards are hiding under the surface.
- Electricity. Water and electricity do not mix. Ever. Downed power lines create a risk of electrocution. Never, ever touch water if there is any chance that live electrical wires are present.
- Drowning. Sadly, many people drown in standing floodwaters when trying to swim across them or even drive through them in their cars. It’s often difficult to tell how deep the water is or what obstacles lie below the surface, both of which increase the risk of drowning.
Stay Safe. Stay Away.
The best way to stay safe is to stay away from floodwater. Call the professionals at Emergency Mitigation Services for expert flood water removal services in Lawrence, KS. Our crews are highly trained in dealing with floods. Let us do the dangerous work of removing the water so you can stay safe and healthy. Call us right away.