CDC Responds to Hurricane 2008 Season
This information is current as of September 15, 2008.
CDC is working with state and local governments, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and other federal agencies to help communities recover from Hurricane Ike, which made landfall this past weekend.
In response to Hurricane Ike and the flooding it has caused, CDC has sent many experts to Texas and Louisiana. These experts include key management officials who are working with state and local response officials. Many of these staff are working in federal medical stations, which are mobile units that provide medical care for evacuees with special needs. Stations are currently set up in Alexandria and Baton Rouge, Louisiana and San Antonio, College Station, and Dallas/Forth Worth, Texas.
CDC is assessing reports submitted through surveillance systems from hospitals and other groups in affected areas to help determine how people in those areas can stay safe while they are recovering from the storm. CDC is also working closely with federal, state, and local partners to distribute information on how to recover safely after hurricanes and flooding, and how to prepare for future storms. Recovering safely includes protecting personal health and preventing injury.
CDC is also closely monitoring the National Poison Data System in an effort to identify cases of carbon monoxide poisoning that might be related to the hurricane. Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death if inhaled. When power outages occur during emergencies such as hurricanes or winter storms, the use of alternative sources of fuel or electricity for heating, cooling, or cooking can cause CO to build up in a home, garage, or camper and to poison the people and animals inside.
To stay safe and healthy during and after a storm:
Avoid Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning when the power is out.
- Generators, grills, camp stoves, or other fuel-burning devices produce deadly CO gases.
- Always use these devices outdoors, far away from windows, doors and vents.
- Pressure washers and other gasoline powered tools also give off high levels of CO and should be used outdoors.
If you are in a safe place, stay where you are.
- Local or state authorities will tell you when it is safe to return home.
- Many affected areas do not have power, are extremely flooded, and are under curfew.
- Being away from home can be stressful—take care of yourself by eating right, getting plenty of rest, and maintaining a positive attitude.
Follow local advisories about the safety of your water supply.
- Use only bottled, boiled, or treated water for drinking, cooking, food preparation, and hand washing.
- Bring water to a rolling boil for 1 minute to kill harmful bacteria and parasites.
- If you cannot boil your water, add 1/8 tsp of household chlorine bleach per gallon of water, which should kill most organisms.
Previous Updates
- September 14, 2008
- September 12, 2008
- September 11, 2008
- September 10, 2008
- September 9, 2008
- September 8, 2008
- September 5, 2008
- September 4, 2008
- September 3, 2008
- September 2, 2008
- August 31, 2008
More Information
For more information about how to stay safe before, during and after hurricanes, please visit emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes.
- Page last updated September 15, 2008
- Content source: CDC Emergency Communication System (ECS), Division of Health Communication and Marketing (DHCM), National Center for Health Marketing (NCHM)
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