From Submitted Reports April 26, 2013 11:04AM
Homes throughout the Fox Valley – like these along Riverside Drive near the Fox River in South Elgin – were damaged by flood waters due to the high river and heavy rains earlier this month | Sun-Times Media file photo
storyidforme: 48325606 tmspicid: 17771380 fileheaderid: 8006021
Updated: April 26, 2013 7:01PM
When returning to your home after a flood, cleaning up can be overwhelming, notes the Kane County Health Department.
The department noted in a press release that in addition to structural damage, flood water can contaminate both food and drinking water with bacteria, viruses and other organisms.
If you become ill (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps), report your condition to your doctor. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if you receive a puncture or severe wound while in contact with contaminated flood water, you should be evaluated immediately by a healthcare provider and receive a tetanus shot if its been more than five year since your last booster, the release said.
If your private well casing has been submerged, the water could be contaminated. Use bottled water or water previously stored in the refrigerator for drinking, brushing teeth, preparing food or baby formula until well water has been tested. The Health Department provides well testing kits free of charge to flooded private water well owners. They are available during regular business hours at the Health Departments Aurora location, 1240 N. Highland Ave., and by appointment at the Elgin location, 1750 Grandstand Place.
To protect yourself against diseases and other hazards following a flood, the health department recommends that residents take the following steps:
Keeping your hands clean helps you avoid getting sick. Wash hands with soap and water. Make sure children follow these same precautions.
Do not eat any food that has come in contact with flood water.
If the power was out, the refrigerator will keep foods cold for about 4 hours (if the door remained closed); a full freezer 2 days. A good rule of thumb: when in doubt, throw it out.
Keep children and pets out of the affected area until cleanup has been completed.
To reduce your risk of injury, wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, and goggles during cleanup of affected area.
Remove and discard items that cannot be washed and disinfected (such as, mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture, cosmetics, stuffed animals, baby toys, pillows, foam-rubber items, books, wall coverings, and most paper products).
Remove and discard drywall and insulation that has been contaminated with sewage or flood waters.
Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces (such as flooring, concrete, molding, wood and metal furniture, countertops, appliances, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures) with hot water and laundry or dish detergent.
Help the drying process by using fans, air conditioning units and dehumidifiers.
The Kane County Office of Emergency Management has a supply of Red Cross clean up supplies for distribution to those within local who are working to recover from the recent flooding. Available supplies include food cleanup kits, shovels, rakes, tarps, work gloves, dust masks, flashlights and ice coolers.
For more information on obtaining the cleanup supplies, call the Office of Emergency Management at (630) 232-5985.
Details on cleanup and disinfection are available from The Illinois Department of Public Health at www.idph.state.il.us/floodinfo/index.htm. Additional information about cleaning up after a flood is available by calling the county health departments Environmental Health Division at (630) 444-3040 or by visiting our website at www.kanehealth.com.
Resources:
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