Superstorm Sandy, October 2012

Overview

Prevent Illness from Food and Water After a Hurricane (Centers for Disease Control)

 

Food and Water After a Hurricane

  • Food may not be safe to eat during and after an emergency. Safe water for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene includes bottled, boiled, or treated water.
  • Throw away food that may have come in contact with flood or storm water, perishable foods, and those with an unusual odor, color, or texture. When in doubt, throw it out.
  • Do not use water you suspect or have been told is contaminated to wash dishes, brush your teeth, wash and prepare food, wash your hands, make ice, or make baby formula. Dr. Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness, says:

“In a disaster like [Hurricane] Sandy, it is not uncommon for us to have real problems with the quality of the drinking water. The water can get contaminated through breakdowns in the sewage treatment plants, overflow of sewers, and all sorts of things that can make it unsafe. It is highly advisable to avoid those potentially contaminated bodies of water.”

  • Do not use your fireplace for cooking until the chimney has been inspected for cracks and damage. Sparks may escape into your attic through an undetected crack and start a fire.
  • Throw away food that may have come in contact with flood or stormwater.
  • Throw away food that has an unusual odor, color, or texture. When in doubt, throw it out.
  • Throw away perishable foods (including meat, poultry, fish, eggs and leftovers) in your refrigerator when the power has been off for 4 hours or more.
  • Thawed food that contains ice crystals can be refrozen or cooked. Freezers, if left unopened and full, will keep food safe for 48 hours (24 hours if half full).
  • Do not cook and eat meat, poultry, fish, eggs, or other refrigerated foods that have been above 40 degrees F for two hours or more.
  • Throw away canned foods that are bulging, opened, or damaged.
  • Food containers with screw-caps, snap-lids, crimped caps (soda pop bottles), twist caps, flip tops, and home-canned foods should be discarded if they have come into contact with floodwater because they cannot be disinfected.
  • If cans have come in contact with floodwater or storm water, remove the labels, wash the cans, and dip them in a solution of 1 cup (8 oz/250 mL) of bleach in 5 gallons of water. Re-label the cans with a marker. Include the expiration date.
  • While the power is out, keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.

Risk of Flood Water or Standing Water

Floodwater and standing water pose various risks, including infectious diseases, chemical hazards, and injuries.

  • Eating or drinking anything contaminated by flood water can cause diarrheal disease. To protect yourself and your family:
    • Practice good hygiene (handwashing) after contact with flood waters.
    • Do not allow children to play in floodwater areas.
    • Wash children’s hands frequently (always before meals).
    • Do not allow children to play with toys that have been contaminated by flood water and have not been disinfected.
  • Flood waters may contain sharp objects, such as glass or metal fragments, that can cause injury and leads to infection. Open wounds and rashes exposed to flood waters can become infected. To protect yourself and your family:

Avoid exposure to flood waters if you have an open wound. Cover open wounds with a waterproof bandage. Keep open wounds as clean as possible by washing well with soap and clean water.

  • Be aware of potential chemical hazards during floods. Flood waters may have moved hazardous chemical containers of solvents or other industrial chemicals from their normal storage places.
  • Flood waters can displace animals, insects, and reptiles. To protect yourself and your family, be alert and avoid contact.