In the wake of a hurricane, the following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are critically important for people in affected areas.
Food
Identify and throw away food that may not be safe to eat, including:
* Food that may have come in contact with flood or storm water.
* Canned foods that are bulging, opened, or damaged.
* Food that has an unusual odor, color, or texture.
* Perishable foods (including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers) that have been above 40 degrees F.
* Thawed food that contains ice crystals or is 40 degree F. or below can be refrozen or cooked. If cans have come in contact with floodwater or storm water, remove the labels, wash the cans, and dip them in a solution of 1 cup of bleach in 5 gallons of water. Re-label the cans with a marker.
Store food safely. While the power is out, keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Add block ice or dry ice to your refrigerator if the electricity is expected to be off longer than 48 hours. Wear heavy gloves when handling ice.
Water
Listen to and follow public announcements. Local authorities will tell you if tap water is safe to drink or to use for cooking or bathing. If the water is not safe to use, follow local instructions to use bottled water or to boil or disinfect water for cooking, cleaning, or bathing.
To correctly boil or disinfect water, hold water at a rolling boil for one minute to kill any bacteria. If you can’t boil water, add 1/8 teaspoon (about 0.75 mL) of newly purchased, unscented liquid household bleach per gallon of water. Stir the water well, and let it stand for 30 minutes before using it. You can also use water-purifying tablets instead of boiling water or bleach.
For infants, use only pre-prepared canned baby formula. Do not use powdered formulas prepared with treated water. Clean children’s toys that have come in contact with floodwater, using a solution of 1 cup of bleach in 5 gallons of water, and allow to air dry.
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