CDC Responds to Hurricane Gustav
September 2, 2008
CDC is working with federal, state and local partners to respond to public health issues related to the landfall of Hurricane Gustav. State health departments in the affected areas have also been assisting each other with responding to the storm.
- Oklahoma, Georgia, Texas and Tennessee have opened shelters to accommodate evacuees from the Gulf Coast. Approximately 1.9 million persons have evacuated from Southern Louisiana and many evacuees are using those shelters.
- Texas has provided transport for Louisiana evacuees and provisions for special medical needs patients from Louisiana, and has welcomed at least 8200 evacuees into its shelters.
- Arkansas and surrounding states have provided ambulances and additional resources to Louisiana and Texas to help in their recovery efforts.
CDC experts are also assessing on-going needs and monitoring injuries and other health problems related to the hurricane. CDC staff members are stationed at FEMA Regional Response Coordination Centers (RRCC). At the Centers, experts from federal and volunteer agencies are organizing available people, supplies and resources to send out to affected areas.
CDC has also been working closely with federal, state and local partners to distribute information on healthy storm recovery. These partners include the Department of Health and Human Services, affected states, the American Red Cross, and other federal response organizations.
There are many things people can do to stay safe and healthy after a storm.
Drink clean, safe water and eat safe, uncontaminated food.
- Listen for water reports from local authorities to find out if your water is safe for drinking and bathing.
- Throw away any food and bottled water that may have come in contact with flood or storm water.
- Use only bottled, boiled, or treated water for drinking, cooking, food preparation, and hand washing.
Stay safe when cleaning up your home after the storm
- Never touch a downed power line or anything in contact with them.
- Always use generators, grills, and fuel -burning devices outside, far from the house.
- Have a professional check your wet or flooded appliances before you use them.
Cleanup crews should make worker safety their highest priority.
- Wear hard hats, goggles, heavy work gloves, ear plugs for excessive noise equipment, and watertight boots with full steel toe and insole.
- Workers should have up-to-date tetanus vaccinations before beginning cleanup.
- Immediately clean minor cuts and burns with soap and clean water.
Avoid driving through flooded areas, especially when the water is moving fast.
- Slow down and drive at a speed that is safe for road and weather conditions.
- Be alert for broken stop lights and missing street signs.
- Wear your seatbelt at all times.
Previous Updates
More Information
For more information about how to stay safe before, during and after hurricanes, please visit: http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/
- Page last updated September 2, 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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