CDC Responds to Hurricane 2008 Season
This information is current as of September 19, 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. Ike made U.S. landfall on the Gulf Coast on Saturday, September 13 and moved across the Midwest as a Tropical Storm.
Currently almost 30,000 people from Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Illinois, Ohio and Missouri have been displaced from their homes. Across the nation more than 3,000,0000 people are experiencing power outages directly related to the recent storms and flooding.
CDC is directly involved in recovery efforts in Texas and Louisiana. The agency has deployed medical doctors, key emergency management officials, and environmental health professionals to work with state and local officials, HHS, and FEMA in those states to address critical health threats. CDC has also sent scientists to Gonaives, Haiti, where Hurricane Ike struck on September 7, to assist in disease diagnosis and sanitation improvement efforts.
CDC is monitoring reports from hospitals across the U.S. and has found that many people have gone to hospitals because they are experiencing extreme physical and emotional exhaustion in the wake of multiple recent hurricanes and tropical storms. There are many things people can do to avoid becoming overwhelmed physically and emotionally. If possible, set priorities for cleanup tasks, pace yourself and try not to work alone. Ask family members, friends, or professionals for support and, if needed, seek professional help.
In addition to taking steps to avoid physical and emotional exhaustion, there are other things people can do to stay healthy and safe during recovery. It is especially important to learn how to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, avoid illness and injuries related to floodwater, and manage the stress of post-hurricane recovery.
To stay safe and healthy during and after a storm:
After a disaster, it’s important to find way to cope with the stress of being away from home.
- Take care of your immediate and ongoing physical needs.
- Get exercise, rest, drink plenty of water and eat healthy meals whenever you can.
- Ask for help when you need it.
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.
- If an advisory has been issued concerning contaminated water, use only bottled, boiled, or treated water for drinking, cooking, food preparation, and hand washing.
Avoid Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning after a disaster.
- Generators, grills, camp stoves, or other gasoline or charcoal-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.
Previous Updates
- September 17, 2008
- September 16, 2008
- September 15, 2008
- 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 19, 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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