Officials Offer Safety Tips For Flooding As Storms Cross The Commonwealth

Kentucky Emergency Management (KYEM) remains activated at Level 4 in support of Tropical Storm Cindy as it moves through Kentucky.  Level 4 operations consist of KYEM staff monitoring and gathering information on the storm as it moves across Kentucky.

Officials are urging our citizens to be prepared and aware of their surroundings as the rain increases throughout the day and overnight.  Following are some safety tips for flooding:

Flooding Water:

Never enter flood waters by foot or vehicle.  A vehicle caught in swiftly moving water can be swept away in a matter of seconds. Twelve inches of water can float a car or small SUV and 18 inches of water can carry away large vehicles.

Do not go into a basement or any room, if water covers the electrical outlets or if cords are submerged.  If you see sparks or hear buzzing, crackling, snapping or popping noises — get out!

Power Outages:

If electrical power lines are down, don’t touch them. Keep your family and pets away.  Report downed lines to your utility company.

Do not use a generator inside your home.  Make sure it is outside and ventilated as required by manufacturer instructions.  Make sure you have a carbon monoxide detector in your home.

Tetanus:

Avoid contact with flood waters.  Flood waters are unclean and can be a risk for tetanus for those who have open wounds that come into direct contact with them. Contact your regular health care provider or your local health department if you believe you may need a tetanus shot.

Mold Cleanup:
Mold may be present in homes that were flooded.  An air conditioner or dehumidifier may be used to lower the level of humidity to prevent mold growth.  Use exhaust fans when showering and cooking.

When cleaning up small areas affected by mold, make sure the area has enough air by opening doors or windows.  Use protective glasses or goggles, rubber boots and waterproof gloves.  Wash clothing afterwards.  If there is heavy mold growth, use a respirator or suitable mask to prevent breathing the mold.

Remove all wet items that have been wet for more than 48 hours and are not able to be cleaned and dried.

If mold is growing in your home, you will need to clean up the mold and fix the moisture problem. Mold growth can be removed from hard surfaces with commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water.  Severe mold cases may require an expert to clean up.

Food Safety:
If you have power outages, keep freezers closed to help keep frozen food from going bad.  A full freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours and for 24 hours if the freezer is half full.

Refrigerated foods should be safe as long as power is out for no more than four hours. Throw away any perishable food in your refrigerator, such as meat, poultry, lunchmeats, fish, dairy products, eggs and any prepared or cooked foods that have been above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for two hours.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are safe as long as they are still firm and have no mold or slimy feel.

To remove spills and refresh the freezer and refrigerator, DPH recommends washing with a solution of 2 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of warm water.  To get rid of any odors, place an open box or dish of baking soda in the freezer or refrigerator.

For more flooding preparedness information, go to http://Healthalerts.ky.gov or http://www.floodsafety.noaa.gov.  Also, visit www.kyem.ky.gov where you can follow KYEM on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

When posting on social media regarding the rain event, please use #KYWX.