CDC Responds to Hurricane 2008 Season
This information is current as of 12:00 pm EST, September 11, 2008.
CDC, the nation’s public health agency, is responding to Hurricane Gustav and preparing for Hurricane Ike’s projected landfall on the Gulf Coast this weekend. Currently, CDC has sent 77 staff to affected and potentially affected areas. Working with the Department of Health and Human Services and federal, state and local partners, CDC’s response is focused on protecting people’s health and safety during storm preparation and recovery. For up to date information about this storm, visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Hurricane Gustav
- CDC has sent experts to affected areas to assist in recovery for Hurricane Gustav. This includes environmental health experts who are working in New Orleans to assess safety at food handling facilities that may have been damaged by the storm.
- Louisiana has monitored handwashing practices in all shelters and educational materials have been distributed by the Department of Health and Human Services.
- Additional CDC experts are providing public health and medical support, assisting with local efforts, and monitoring state surveillance activities in local areas.
Hurricane Ike
- CDC is working to help communities prepare for landfall along coastal areas that may be affected by the storm. Federal Experts are working with state and local officials for evacuation of coastal counties in South Texas. Evacuations from coastal counties in Texas have begun, especially for patients with special medical needs. Southwest Louisiana is also preparing to evacuate. Hospitals in Houston, Texas will shelter in place.
- CDC experts are assisting in providing support to temporary shelters for evacuees.
- Federal Medical Stations are mobile units made of medical supplies, equipment, and healthcare providers which provide medical care for evacuees with special needs. Each medical station has beds, supplies, and medicine to treat 250 people for a period of time determined by state and local needs, without drawing resources from the host community. Currently, there are 5 stations set up or planned across the South, including stations in Dallas and San Antonio, Texas; Two stations in Florida are being re-routed to Atlanta, Georgia to better serve potential evacuees from the storm.
In addition to deploying staff and resources, CDC is working closely with federal, state and local partners to distribute information on how to recover safely after a hurricane and how to prepare for future storms. Recovering safely includes protecting personal health and preventing injury.
There are many things you can do to stay safe before and during a storm.
Residents who stay at home during a storm should know how to leave their homes quickly if the building becomes hazardous.
- Before the storm strikes, determine the best escape routes from your house.
- Make sure everyone in your house is able to follow the escape plan.
- Look for escape routes from upper levels of the house in case your home begins to flood.
Protect your home from the risk of fire before, during and after the storm, when fire trucks may not be able to get to your house.
- If the power is out, use flashlights or other battery-powered lights if possible, instead of candles.
- If candles are all you have, place them in safe holders away from anything that could catch fire.
- Never leave a burning candle unattended.
Stay safe around the electrical hazards caused by power outages and flooding.
- Never touch a downed power line or anything in contact with one.
- If a power line falls on your car, remain inside unless the car catches fire or authorities tell you to get out.
- Do not touch a person who has been electrocuted without making sure the person is no longer in contact with the electrical source.
There are many things you can do to stay safe as you recover after a storm.
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.
Follow manufacturer’s directions to prevent chain saw injuries after a disaster.
- Read the instruction manual and start the chain saw using only the method recommended by the manufacturer.
- It is best to wear protective equipment, including hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, heavy work gloves, and boots which cover the ankle.
- When cutting, keep the chain saw at waist level or below to improve your control of the saw.
When returning to a home after a flood, mold may be present and it may be a health risk for your family.
- If you have asthma, allergies, or other breathing conditions you may be more sensitive to mold.
- You may see mold on walls or ceilings, they may be discolored or show signs of water damage.
- If you smell a bad odor, such as a musty, earthy, or foul smell it may be mold damage.
Previous Updates
- 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 11, 2008
- Content source: CDC Emergency Communication System (ECS), Division of Health Communication and Marketing (DHCM), National Center for Health Marketing (NCHM)
Get email updates
To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address:
Contact Us:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd
Atlanta, GA 30333 - 800-CDC-INFO
(800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348
24 Hours/Every Day - cdcinfo@cdc.gov
