Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
After a severe hurricane or flood has struck your area, chances are good that the utilities will be
down for quite a while, perhaps for several weeks. Here are some other things you might ex-
pect and look out for, as well as action items to perform in the aftermath of a hurricane:
• Until the authorities tell you the tap water is safe, expect that it will have been con-
taminated from floodwaters, so all tap water should be filtered, chemically treated, or
boiled before drinking.
• Snakes and other wild animals will seek shelter from the storm on higher ground and
may be prevalent or agitated, so be aware! Normally docile animals may behave in
unexpected ways.
• Watch for downed power lines. A chain saw is a useful tool to bring along when at-
tempting to drive a car after a major storm with high winds.
• Check on your neighbors.
• Check for gas leaks and damaged electrical lines. If you smell gas, or suspect a leak,
turn the gas off at your meter or fuel tank and call your gas company.
Caution:
Do
not light a match, turn on a light switch, or even a flashlight in the presence of gas, or
an explosion may occur!
• Take “after” pictures of damage for insurance purposes.
• Open windows and doors for drying out your home to reduce the likelihood of mold
damage.
• You can “wash” furniture and textiles in the sun to kill mold spores using the sun's
ultraviolet rays.
Caution:
This technique will not save severely mold-damaged items.
Toxic Mold: Flooding's Evil Twin
Mold and flooding go hand in hand. Even though it has been more than five years since Hur-
ricane Katrina struck, there are rows upon rows of abandoned New Orleans homes that are
filled with toxic black mold, rendering them unfit for human habitation. In the aftermath of any
flood, the presence of significant visible mold inside a home makes it clear that drastic meas-
ures are mandated, such as the use of a professional mold-remediation team with respirators
and Tyvek protective clothing (including Tyvek booties and hoods). In other cases, mold can be
a hidden demon, thriving inside walls and crawl spaces, devastating occupants' lives without
leaving obvious clues as to the cause of their misfortune. This topic is not about mold remedi-
ation. However, since floods and toxic mold problems tend to go together, I will provide you
with some basic information to help you understand when your problem is serious enough that
you should seek professional medical help, or the help of a qualified mold-remediation service.
