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News Release

HHS CAUTIONS AMERICANS FOLLOWING STORM
Information on food and water safety among available information

The Department of Health and Human Services cautions Americans affected by the hurricane to remember to protect their health as they clean up in the aftermath of the storm.

"Protecting your health and safety is just as important after a hurricane as during one," Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said. "We want people to respond safely and effectively so that their lives can return to normal as quickly as possible."

Public health information ranging from food safety to mental health assistance is available at the top of the HHS Web site - www.hhs.gov. The direct link is www.hhs.gov/disasters/hurricane.html. The information on the Internet is part of the Department's far-reaching response efforts to Hurricane Isabel, which includes providing emergency response teams to affected communities and monitoring the food and blood supplies.

Hurricanes leave a number of dangers behind. Among the hurricane information available on the website:

• If you have evacuated an area, wait until the authorities declare the area safe before returning. Find out which roads, areas, and buildings are safe.

• When outside after a hurricane, avoid moving water, regardless of depth or speed. Do not drive through flooded roads - cars can be swept away or break down.

• Assume that any downed power lines are hazardous live wires - do not approach them and do not touch anything that may be in contact with them, including standing water.

• If your home is without power, do not use candles for light, as they can start larger fires.

• Your refrigerator will keep foods cool for about four hours without power if it is unopened.

• Your freezer will keep foods safe for between twenty-four and forty-eight hours if unopened, depending on how full it is. Thawed food is safe to eat if it is still "refrigerator cold," or under forty degrees Fahrenheit, or if it has been room temperature for more than two hours. Through out any food that has an unusual odor, color, or texture, or if it may have been touched by floodwaters.

• You may not have potable water since water treatment plants may be damaged and unable to clean the water. If you do not know if water is safe to use, boil it first. Pouring it from one pot to another will remove any unpleasant taste caused by the boiling.

• For infants, if possible, use prepared canned baby formula that requires no added water. When using concentrated or powdered formulas prepare with bottled water if the local water source is potentially contaminated.

• Never allow children to play in floodwaters, as they may be contaminated by sewage.

• Rain and flooding in a hurricane area can lead to an increase in mosquitoes. While mosquitoes can carry communicable diseases, it is unlikely that diseases that were not present in the area prior to the hurricane will be of concern. Nevertheless, in order to prevent diseases such as the West Nile virus from spreading, protect yourself from mosquitoes by wearing clothes with long sleeves and long pants, use a bug repellant containing DEET, and drain all standing water left in open containers outside your home when possible.

• You may spend a great deal of time outside as you cleanup from the storm. As you always should when outside, make sure to protect yourself from the sun by regularly applying sunscreen and wearing a wide brimmed hat.

• The days following a hurricane can be rough. In addition to your physical health, it is important to consider your mental health as well. Some sleeplessness, anxiety, anger, hyperactivity, mild depression, or lethargy are normal, and may go away with time. However, if you feel any of these symptoms acutely, seek counseling. Remember, children need extra care and attention before, during, and after the storm.

• Hurricanes are often followed by shortages in blood supplies, due both to spoilage caused by power outages and an increased need to treat the injured. If you are can, you should consider donating. More information regarding blood donation can be found by calling 1-800-GIVE LIFE (1-800-448-3543) or by visiting www.aabb.org.

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

Last Revised: September 19, 2003