With the many different natural disaster phenomena that occur around the world, flooding and the dangers associated with it are often overlooked. It’s easy for people to understand the visible dangers such as rising waters and strong currents, however, many do not consider the invisible dangers, which are still present and extremely risky to ignore. Whether it’s several inches of water in your backyard or five feet of water submerging your home, all floodwater is contaminated. Even if your local government does not release an official warning about the state of the water, all floodwater contains some amount of sewage or contamination and should not be taken lightly.

The Health Risks of Floodwater

Sewage Contamination

Heavy rainfall in or near your area of residence can cause a lot of water to saturate the ground, fill the city drainage system, and back up plumbing pipes. Elevation, the amount of water your city’s drainage system can handle, and any other planned preventative measures will determine how well or poorly suited your city is to handle large amounts of rain. When your city does finally hit the point of over saturation however, sewage begins to spill out into the floodwater, the streets, and your home. When this happens, the city issues a water boil advisory and cautions people to avoid going into the water when possible. Coming into contact with sewage-infused floodwater can result in serious health risks for you and your family when proper precautions are not taken.

Regular Contamination

Not every flood results in sewage overflow, but that doesn’t mean the water is clean and safe to wade through. Common contamination from water flowing over streets, parking lots, and into other bodies of water is unavoidable. The floodwater picks up animal waste, street run-off, trash, chemicals and anything else that tends to end up on the roads and pollutes the entire area. While you may think it’s harmless for your children to jump in the small streams that have formed or for you to walk through ankle-deep water, it’s actually a potential health risk because of all the pollution.

Risks

In any instance, there are always health risks when flooding is concerned. Pathogens such as bacteria, mold, and viruses thrive in wet environments and spread easily through the water. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, most cases of sickness come from ingesting contaminated food or water. Viruses such as tetanus however, can be acquired from contact with open wounds and cuts. Chemicals in the floodwater can also cause various health problems like rashes, nausea, and headaches.

Along with the contaminants in the floodwater, you also need to be aware of other hazards such as electrically charged water, harmful objects within the floodwater, and structure instability when inside buildings. Navigating floodwaters should be done with care and extreme caution to avoid injury.

Safety Measures

When dealing with floodwater in any amount, you should always remember to take precautionary measures to avoid sickness and bodily harm. Ensure everyone is wearing protective gloves, eyewear, and boots, and cover all scrapes and cuts when coming in contact with contaminated water. After working in floodwater, you should also be sure to wash and disinfect yourself to remove any pathogens and chemicals that may still be lingering on your skin.

When it occurs, flooding can cause both property and physical damage. For your safety and the safety of others, treat all water in flooded areas as if it were contaminated, and listen for any advisories from your city.