Putnam County

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Flood

Topics:

Other information on the February 2008 flooding:  www.ottawaohio.us & www.accessottawa.com

Comprehensive "Recovery After the Flood" Manual

Ottawa Community Flood Anniversary Celebration

Northwest Ohio Flood Mitigation Partnership Community Forum

Flooded Basements:  Information on Entering & Pumping

Flooding & Hypothermia

Well Pumping & Disinfection Directions and Water Sampling

Flood Food Safety Tips

Mold Assistance Information

Diseases & Flooding

Northwest Ohio Flood Mitigation Partnership:

Community Open Forum to be held on April 3rd

You are cordially invited to attend a community Open Forum introducing the Northwest Ohio Flood Mitigation Partnership, explaining its goals and the timetable for accomplishing the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers flood mitigation feasibility study.  The Putnam County meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 3, 2008, at 7:30 PM (doors open at 7:00) in the Ottawa-Glandorf High School Auditorium (630 Glendale Avenue, Ottawa). 

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Use of Tetanus Vaccine Following Flooding

During flood recovery, tetanus vaccine is available through the Putnam County Health Department and targeted to anyone receiving a puncture wound or wound contaminated with feces, soil, or saliva.  Wading through flood waters only does not require a tetanus vaccine.

Tetanus vaccine does not need to be given if you received a tetanus shot during the flood in August 2007 even if you sustain a wound.  Tetanus boost is needed every 7 – 10 years.

Please call the health department or your health care provider for more information about tetanus vaccine or to schedule an appointment.

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Flooded Basements:  Information on Entering & Pumping

Before you enter a flooded basement:

1. Turn off the electricity, preferably at the meter.

2. Check outside cellar walls for possible cave-ins, evidence of structural damage or other hazards.

3. Turn off gas or fuel service valves.

4. Open doors and windows, or use blowers to force fresh air into the basement.
   

Pumping

Do not use an electric pump powered by your own electrical system. Use a gas-powered pump, or one connected to an outside line. Fire departments in some communities may help with such services. More damage may be done by pumping water from the basement too soon or
too quickly, than from letting the floodwater remain.  Water in the basement helps brace the walls against the extra pressure of water-logged soil outside. If water is pumped out too soon, walls may be pushed up.

To help prevent such structural damage, pump the water from the basement in stages. Remove about a third of the water each day. Watch walls for signs of failing.  If the outside water level rises again after the day's pumping, start with a new water line. The soil may be very slow to drain, but do not hurry the pumping.  Whatever is submerged in the flooded basement will not be damaged further by delaying the pumping; serious structural damage may be prevented.

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Well Pumping & Disinfection Directions and Water Sampling

The Putnam County Health Department recommends that any well that has had water around or relatively near the casing, has been submerged, or is within 100 feet of a flooded stream should be properly cleaned, disinfected, then sampled.  Pumping and disinfection information can be found below.   The Putnam County Health Department is offering free sampling for those households that meet the above criteria.  Pumping and disinfection must be completed at least 48 hours before sampling can be done.  Free sampling will be done on Wednesday afternoons.  Please contact the Health Department at (419) 523-5608 if you are interested in this sampling. 

PUMPING:

The first step is to pump the well.  Turn on as many faucets in the home as possible, and run the water for several hours (24 hours if possible) to waste in the yard or other drainageway.  The well should be heavily pumped to remove as much flood water as possible from the casing and the geologic formation.  When a well is flooded, the contaminated water enters the well and can move out into the geologic materials that supply water to the well.  Overpumping will help remove flood water from the ground water supply.  Do not discharge this water to the septic system, as it will cause the system to become overloaded.

DISINFECTING YOUR WATER WELL:

What you will need:

1. Remove well cap.
2. Pour 1 gallon of vinegar into well.  Wait 1 hour.
3. Pour 2 gallons of bleach into well.
4. Connect a garden hose to an outside spigot and run water directly into the well. Circulate chlorine water for 30 minutes.  Turn off outside tap, remove hose, and replace well cap.
5. Disinfect water lines in the house by opening all water fixtures in the house, letting the water run until you have a strong odor of chlorine.  Be sure to include both hot and cold.
6. Close all valves and let sit for at least 12 hours.
7. Reconnect hose to the outside spigot and begin running water onto the ground or into a drainage ditch until the chlorine odor disappears.
8. Open each fixture in the house until chlorine odor is gone.

Wait  48 hours to sample/resample.

Contact Putnam County Health Department at (419) 523-5608 to schedule water sample.  Samples are collected on Wednesday afternoons. 

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FLOOD FOOD SAFETY TIPS

FOOD SAFETY:

As a rule of thumb, do not eat any food that has come in contact with floodwater.

If the safety of any food or beverage is questionable follow the simple rule - WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT.

Canned Food

Frozen and Refrigerated Foods

If your refrigerator or freezer may be without power for a long period:

Thawed food can usually be eaten or refrozen if it is still "refrigerator cold," or if it still contains ice crystals. To be safe, remember, "When in doubt, throw it out." Discard any food that has been at room temperature for two hours or more, and any food that has an unusual odor, color, or texture.

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Mold Assistance Information

Mold growth can occur when wet conditions and moisture are allowed to remain in buildings.  The best way to prevent mold growth is to get rid of moisture and water problems caused by the flood quickly.  Below you will find information on mold, as well as flood clean-up recommendations to prevent mold problems. 

Examples of condensation are:

Warning: Ventilation changes may affect dangerous radon and carbon monoxide gas levels in your home. Check radon and carbon monoxide gas levels in your home when you install exhaust fans. Install a carbon monoxide alarm and recheck for radon gas every three-to-five years.

Mold is a simple, tiny living organism that grows wherever it gets enough water to reproduce. It eats the material it grows on. It is able to grow on objects that have small amounts of living material such as dirt, grease and dead skin cells. Some molds can produce an unpleasant odor.

Mold will not grow unless water is present. It grows more quickly if there are water leaks, spills, high humidity or condensation. Mold can be any color or texture. Moldy hard surface items can be cleaned, but porous objects may need to be thrown out.

Mold is always present in the air, indoors and outdoors. When visible mold is in your house, you have some sort of water problem or a leak. The sooner you fix the water problem the less mold you will have to clean up and the less it will cost. It is best to fix water problems in 24-48 hours.

Some people have symptoms when they are exposed to mold. However, these symptoms can have other causes. These symptoms can include: 

People with these special concerns should consult a physician. These people may be at higher risk for the health effects of molds:

Even if no one in your home has these problems, it is important to quickly identify and correct any moisture sources before mold develops.

There are hundreds of thousands of kinds of mold.  Many are black. Black molds are no more likely to cause health effects than any other color molds.

Some molds produce toxins. Toxins are chemicals that cause cells to break down. Molds that produce toxins do so under certain circumstances. These toxins are produced mainly to kill other mold species. You have to touch, breathe-in or swallow a mold in order to be affected by a toxin. 

Just because a mold is present does not mean that a toxin is present.

Most people will never have a health problem from being around mold. However, when there is a large amount of airborne mold, it can cause allergic reactions, asthma episodes, infections, and other respiratory problems for people. Exposure to high mold levels can lead to allergies. Care should be taken when cleaning to prevent the spread of mold.

Most serious exposures are in the occupational environment, not in the home, school or office environment. If you have mold growing in your home, you should take steps to get rid of it. 

It's important to remember that the symptoms just mentioned can come from many other sources in the home, such as:

If you can see or smell mold you already know you have a mold and moisture problem. Testing for mold is not generally recommended. Even if the test tells you the kind of mold that is present, the clean up needs will remain the same.

There are no reliable medical tests for mold exposure. An allergy specialist can test for allergies to only a few of the most common molds.

Mold Clean Up

Six Steps to get rid of mold you see in your home.

1. Find and fix the water problem – This is the most important step. 

2. Dry anything that is wet.  Start as soon as possible.   Move wet items away from walls and off floors.  For larger problems, use fans and dehumidifiers. 

3. Get rid of moldy items.  Cover with plastic and throw out moldy clothes, fabric covered furniture, drywall, insulation, plaster, carpet/carpet pad, ceiling tiles, wood products (other than solid wood), and paper products. If sewage has been in the house, throw all soiled items out.  Protect yourself and others during mold clean up, wear:   Long sleeves and long pants – put directly in laundry after use.   Rubber gloves. Eye goggles. N-95 rated “dust” mask available at hardware store.  If anyone in the home has asthma or a chronic disease – do cleanup  when they are out of the house. 

4. Clean solid surfaces. Scrub all moldy surfaces using a stiff brush, hot water and a non-ammonia soap or detergent.  Collect excess cleaning liquid with a mop, sponge, or wet/dry vacuum.  Rinse area with clean water and remove rinse water. 

5. Disinfect surfaces (if desired).  Mix 1/2 cup bleach per gallon of water. Spray, sponge or wash on moldy areas. Allow to sit on the surface for 15 minutes. Collect any remaining bleach solution with a sponge, or mop, or wet/ dry vacuum.  Warning! Do NOT mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners! 

6. Be on MOLD ALERT! Keep looking for signs of moisture problems. Fix moisture problems.   Look for return of mold growth.   Clean up as soon as you see mold.  When can we rebuild?  You can rebuild if the moisture problem is fixed, all mold is cleaned up, and everything is dry. How to choose a mold clean up (remediation professional: Get estimates from three companies. You may find companies under Disaster, Environmental, Restoration Services, or Mold Remediation in the Yellow Pages. When choosing a company, ask: What experience they have; What courses they have taken; What mold remediation certification(s) the manager has; and, If a manager who is certified will be on the job site at all times when work is being done. A written agreement should be provided by anyone you hire. It should state in detail the work to be done, start and end dates, the materials to be used, and the price breakdown for both labor and materials. Review it carefully before signing. Never pay for all repairs in advance, and don't pay cash. You should use a different company to clean up (remediate) from one that does testing for mold for you.

Note: This fact sheet is a basic clean-up guide for small areas of mold growth. Other safety steps may be needed.  When in doubt, stop work and seek advice from your local health department or an experienced mold professional.  

Source: Fact Sheet: Mold In Homes. Minnesota Department of Health, Environmental Health

Division, Indoor Air Unit. www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/mold/index.html  

More mold cleanup information can also be found at:

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Diseases & Flooding

Disease outbreaks are rare after flooding. The principal problem in the Ohio’s post flood surveillance identified during 1997 was physical injuries (clearly #1 problem) but also reported were hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning (Carbon monoxide poisoning is most likely associated with portable pumps and or generators). Again enteric disease was not identified as a problem.

However, floodwater may contain various bacteria, viruses, and other infectious organisms that may cause disease. Floodwater may contain fecal material from overflowing sewage systems and agricultural and industrial by-products. While skin contact with floodwater does not, by itself, pose a serious health risk, ingesting food or drink contaminated with floodwater may cause disease.

WOUNDS

If you have any kind of cut, burn, or infection on your hands, be sure to use plastic or rubber gloves if you must be in contact with floodwater. If open sores become exposed to contaminated water, disinfect the area(s) with soap and clean water to control infection. If a wound develops redness, swelling or drainage, immediately seek medical attention. Serious injuries require immediate medical attention.

TETANUS 

The tetanus bacteria typically enter the body through places where the skin is broken, so it is very important to protect these areas. Administration of antibiotics against tetanus is neither practical nor useful in managing wounds. Wound cleaning, debridement when necessary and proper immunizations are important. Anyone sustaining a puncture wound or who has a wound that becomes contaminated with feces, soil or saliva should have a doctor determine whether a tetanus booster is necessary. Specific recommendations for vaccinations should be made on a case-by-case basis.

GASTROINTESTINAL ILLNESSES

Flood waters may carry a number of infectious organisms that can threaten the public's health. Generally, these organisms live in the intestines of animals and sometimes humans. The diseases transmitted by water generally produce diarrhea, with or without nausea and vomiting. Good personal hygiene and avoiding contaminated foods and beverages are critical preventive measures. Individuals should also avoid swimming, body surfing, scuba diving, wading or playing in flood waters.

E. COLI

E. coli O157:H7, one of hundreds of strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli, is an emerging cause of food borne illness. While most strains are harmless and live in the intestines of healthy humans and animals, this particular strain produces a powerful toxin that can cause severe illness. Many persons infected with the bacterium develop severe diarrhea and painful abdominal cramps, although some people show few or no symptoms. The diarrhea can be very bloody. Because there is usually little or no fever, a person may think some other condition is causing the bowel to bleed and this infection may go unrecognized. The illness usually resolves itself in five to 10 days. In some persons, particularly children younger than 5 years of age and the elderly, the infection can lead to destruction of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia) and acute kidney failure (also known as uremia). Most persons recover without antibiotics or other specific treatment in five to 10 days, although it may be several months before bowel habits are entirely normal. Antidiarrheal agents, such as loperamide (ImodiumJ), should be avoided.

Most cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection comes from undercooked ground beef. Beef that is still pink, or has blood-tinged juices, has not been cooked enough to kill E. coli O157:H7. Contaminated meat looks and smells normal. The infection may also can follow drinking raw unpasteurized milk or drinking or swimming in sewage-contaminated water. While the number of organisms required to cause disease is not known, it is suspected to be very small.

When someone develops E. coli O157:H7 infection, careful hand washing with soap and warm water reduces the risk of spreading it. Frequent supervised hand washing with soap and warm water is particularly important if the patient is a young child.

SALMONELLA

Salmonella is a general name for a group of about 2,000 closely related bacteria that cause illness by reproducing in the digestive tract. Salmonella bacteria are found wherever animals live. They can withstand hot and cold weather, rain and drought. Usually the illness comes from food contaminated with animal feces found on or in raw meats, eggs, fish and shellfish and, most commonly, in poultry. Salmonella also may be found in raw milk or in milk that is contaminated after pasteurization.

Often it is mistaken for the "stomach flu." Symptoms, which last from 24 hours to 12 days, include headache, muscle aches, diarrhea, vomiting, and rumblings in the bowels, chills, fever, nausea and dehydration. They usually appear six to 72 hours after ingestion, but carriers have no symptoms. Salmonellosis is seldom fatal. Fluids are recommended to prevent dehydration because the diarrhea that flushes bacteria out of the body drains a great deal of liquid. Pain relievers and fever reducers may make the person more comfortable. Most cases of salmonellosis are not treated with antibiotics.

People are far more likely to contract salmonellosis at home than in a restaurant, so be sure to handle food safely. Salmonella are killed when food is thoroughly cooked. This means cooking ground beef to at least 155 degrees and making sure all food is cooked properly.

Because fruits and vegetables have now been identified as a source of salmonella, it is important that these food items by thoroughly washed in running water before they are eaten. Wash utensils and wooden cutting boards thoroughly with hot, soapy water.

Salmonella may lie dormant for a year or more and then "wake up" when food is present. They also may live in the cut marks on a wooden cutting board. Use an acrylic board that can go in the dishwasher. Rub down or spray wooden boards with a solution of 1 ounce bleach to 1 gallon water and allow to air dry.

Cutting boards for raw meat and poultry should not be used for cheese, raw vegetables and other foods that will not be cooked before being served.

To prevent the spread of salmonella, wash hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and before handling food. Do not allow an infected person to handle food or work in the kitchen.

SHIGELLOSIS

Shigellosis is a form of dysentery caused by any of more than 40 serotypes of Shigella bacteria. It is an infection of the intestinal tract, contracted when

a person ingests live bacteria. The source of the disease is the feces of infected humans.

Shigellosis is only rarely a food borne disease. Causes may include poor hygiene and sanitation standards, crowded living conditions and travel to countries with low standards of sanitation.

Bacteria are spread by people and, less commonly, by food or water contaminated with fecal matter from an infected person. Flies also may carry the bacteria onto food. Bacteria may be spread through inanimate items touched by an infected person. Those infected can continue to shed bacteria from their intestines from several weeks to a year after symptoms have disappeared. The average period of communicability is 13 days. Symptoms last fewer than four days and include diarrhea, nausea, fever, cramps and dehydration. Dehydration may be the most serious side effect, especially in young children. Deaths are rare.  Those who are infected should replace lost fluids to prevent dehydration.

The best means of control is good hygiene, especially after using the bathroom and before handling food or utensils. Infected people should not handle food or work in the kitchen. Items being used by a sick person should be sanitized before others use them. Wash clothing or bedding contaminated by fecal matter in hot, soapy water. Sanitize bathrooms and toilet seats with chlorine bleach. Protect food from contamination from flies.

TYPHOID FEVER

Typhoid fever is a theoretical possibility but the risk is extremely low. Cases reported in the United States almost always have originated in foreign countries. Typhoid vaccination of persons exposed to floodwaters is not recommended. Immunity to typhoid takes at least three weeks to develop following the inoculation.

HEPATITIS-A

A vaccine to prevent hepatitis A was licensed in 1995. It is not routinely recommended for persons affected by floods. Immunity to hepatitis A occurs approximately two weeks after administration of the vaccine. Immune globulin is not recommended because hepatitis A outbreaks have not been associated with floods in the United States .

NOROVIRUS

Norovirus also is known as "winter vomiting disease," or acute infectious nonbacterial gastroenteritis. First identified as the cause of a food poisoning outbreak at a Norwalk , Ohio , grammar school in 1968, the virus is fecal-borne. It is found in the small intestines of infected persons. Norwalk virus also is a common water-borne agent and may be carried on foods whose preparation requires extensive hand contact.

The illness may be caused by eating uncooked clams and oysters that sometimes are contaminated in harvest beds. The virus is brought into the food chain by people who do not wash their hands properly after using the bathroom. Secondary person-to-person spread also is common. Infected persons are believed to be infectious for 24 to 48 hours after symptoms subside. Norwalk virus causes no long-term health effects. Symptoms usually last from one to two days or more, with an incubation period of about the same duration. The symptoms are similar to salmonellosis: diarrhea, dehydration, cramps, vomiting, fever, muscle aches, headache, chills and weakness.

Victims may require hospitalization to replace lost fluids, but in most people the illness goes away by itself without treatment. Antibiotics are not used to treat Norwalk virus.

Prevention requires proper hand washing after using the bathroom, especially for those who handle food. Sanitary disposal of feces and protection of water supplies from contamination by sewage are essential preventive measures.

HYPOTHERMIA

Standing or working in water that is cooler than 75 degrees F drains body heat more rapidly than it can be replaced, resulting in hypothermia. To reduce the risk of hypothermia, wear high rubber boots, ensure clothing and boots have adequate insulation, avoid working alone, take frequent breaks out of the water and change into dry clothing.

Signs of hypothermia include forgetfulness, drowsiness, slurred speech, and change in appearance (e.g., puffy face), weak pulse, slow heartbeat, and very slow and shallow breathing. If you notice these symptoms in a person, take his or her temperature. If it is 95 degrees or below, call a doctor or ambulance or take the victim directly to the hospital. To prevent further heat loss, wrap the patient in a warm blanket. If the victim is alert, give small quantities of warm food or drink, but do not give alcoholic beverages.

MENTAL HEALTH

A major disaster can elicit many types of responses from its victims. From mildly stressful reactions to those that indicate serious psychological problems, reactions to a natural disaster can be as varied as the people who fall victim to them. When these responses indicate that the victim is no longer able to function appropriately in the situation, he or she should be referred for professional assistance. These types of behavior may include psychosomatic symptoms brought on by emotional stress, grief due to loss, various forms of interpersonal and socially negative behavior (these often appear after the immediate response to the disaster), alcohol and/or drug dependency, and psychological problems such as depression, disorientation, hysteria and psychosis.

PESTS

MOSQUITOES, FLIES, Etc.: The large amount of pooled water and the filth and debris that remain after a flood may provide an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes, flies and other insects. While the majority of these will be merely pests, some can carry communicable diseases such as typhoid, dysentery and encephalitis. The first and best defense against these pests and the illnesses they may carry is to eliminate the places where they breed.

The following recommendations will help you protect yourself from mosquitoes and other insects:

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