News Release
Aug. 27, 2020
The Texas Department of
State Health Services is sharing health precautions as residents return to areas
affected by Hurricane Laura. Because of the ongoing threat of COVID-19, residents
should continue social distancing and wearing masks when interacting with
people who don’t live in their household.
DSHS urges people to follow
all local drinking water and other safety notices and throw out food that may
have spoiled or been contaminated. Because of the risk of carbon monoxide
poisoning, gasoline-powered generators should not be used indoors.
Health officials offer
the following advice:
COVID-19
- Continue
to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including keeping six
feet of distance from people not in your household, wearing a mask when around
others, and frequently washing hands and disinfecting surfaces.
- Self-quarantine
and monitor yourself for symptoms for 14 days after leaving a shelter where you
were housed with people from outside your household.
Returning
Home
- Return in daylight for
best visibility to be aware of any unsafe power sources. Do not use lanterns or
torches until after the premises are safe from gas leaks.
- Always wear closed-toe
shoes in post-storm areas to reduce the chances of punctures or cuts from nails
and other sharp objects.
- Snakes and other wild
animals may seek shelter in homes, vehicles and trees and can be injured in
heavy rains and winds. Do not handle any wildlife. Seek immediate treatment if
bitten or injured by an animal. Beware of displaced pets.
Cleanup
and Recovery
- Never run gas-powered
electrical generators or use gas or charcoal grills indoors. Carbon monoxide
can build up and be fatal to people indoors.
- Never mix bleach with
products that contain ammonia to prevent the creation of toxic fumes.
- Disinfect all furniture,
woodwork, household surfaces and toys in homes that have flooded. Use a
solution of one cup bleach to five gallons of water.
- Wash hands frequently
during cleanup to help avoid contaminating areas that have already been
cleaned.
- Protect yourself from
mosquito bites with an EPA-registered insect repellent. Standing water after
floods can be a breeding place for mosquitoes. Drain all the standing water you
can and dump out containers like toys, flower pots and saucers, old tires, cans
and storm debris.
- Try to rest and conserve
energy and avoid heat stress. People with heart conditions and other illnesses
should avoid strenuous exertion.
Drinking
Water
- People under boil water
alerts and those with private wells that may have been contaminated by
floodwater should use only bottled, boiled or treated water until water has
been tested and found safe.
- When boiling water for
drinking, cooking and washing, bring it to a rolling boil for at least one
minute and then let it cool. If boiling isn’t possible, water can be
disinfected with regular, unscented household bleach using one-eighth teaspoon,
about eight drops, per gallon of water. Add the bleach, stir well and let stand
for 30 minutes.
Food
- Do not eat food that has
been in contact with flood water.
- If electricity has been
off, refrigerated food may have spoiled. Discard any food that has been at room
temperature for more than two hours or that has an unusual odor or color.
- Wash hands with soap and
disinfected water before eating or handling food, after clean-up work and after
handling flood water-contaminated items.
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(Contact: DSHS
Press Office at pressofficer@dshs.texas.gov)