Cleaning Up After a Flood!
PDC Global Hazards Atlas displaying PDC Integrated Active Hazards and 3 day precipitation accumulation.
Some may think of flood water as “just water,” but it is important to remember that it may also contain harmful germs and other contaminates! So how can you properly clean-up after a flood? The following is a list of important tips that will help guide you through this process to help keep you and your family healthy and safe: (ARC)
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Make sure your water is safe to drink.
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Protect yourself (Wear protective clothing!)
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Remove spoilage (e.g. contaminated and unsafe food – When in doubt throw it out!)
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Take care of your health.
- Air out affected rooms.
- Discard items which cannot be rendered mold-free.
- Disinfect all affected areas.
- Sterilize food-bearing utensils.
- Wash with clean water often (Wash hands frequently!)
- Determine what harmful chemicals may be present and find out how to eliminate them as hazards.
For more information on flooding and other types of natural hazards be sure to check out PDC’s Natural Hazards webpage! Be sure to also check-out the PDC’s Preparing for Disaster webpage and Printable Disaster Checklist and start preparing today!
Below let’s take a look at the ongoing flood situation in Pakistan.
Precipitation & Flooding: Pakistan
PDC Global Hazards Atlas centered on Pakistan, displaying PDC Integrated Active Hazards and 7 day precipitation accumulation.
The flood situation in Pakistan continues to be dire as the number of affected people has increased to around 4.8 million. Approximately 15,486 villages have been affected and 402,397 houses damaged. Over 349,000 people are currently seeking shelter in 507 relief camps, and emergency declarations have been declared for parts of Balochistan, Punjab, and Sindh provinces. (UNOCHA/AlertNet-IDMC)
Other Flooding Events
Some additional flooding events that occurred this week are:
- Spain (Alora, Andalusia)
- Heavy Rain, Flash Floods
- 10 people killed (RSOE EDIS)
- India (Andhra Pradesh)
- Heavy Rain, Flooding
- 3 people killed in Prakasam district (ReliefWeb/Times of India)
- Thailand
- Ongoing Flooding
- Over 179,000 people (75,000 households) affected
- Disaster zones declared for 10 provinces (ReliefWeb-NNT)
- Somalia (Northern/Southern)
- Thunderstorms, Heavy Rain, Flash Flooding (NOAA/CPC)
PDC is currently monitoring flooding events in: Bangladesh, Benin, Cameroon, England, Ethiopia, Guinea, Honduras, India, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Pakistan, Somalia, Spain, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Looking Ahead
Over the next week, PDC will continue to monitor areas of high precipitation and keep a close eye on flooding across the globe. Want to find the most up-to-date information on flooding and other hazards occurring in your neighborhood or around the world? Then be sure to download PDC’s free Disaster Alert mobile app available for your iOS or Android devices today! Also be sure to continue to monitor PDC on Twitter, Facebook, and by way of the Global Hazards Atlas.