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Drinking contaminated water may cause illness. You cannot assume that the water in the hurricane-affected area is safe to drink. Listen to local announcements on the safety of the water supply. Besides the "tangible" effects of flooding, such as damage to property and infrastructure, there is a growing awareness of the significance of the "intangible" effects, both physical and psychological, that have traditionally been underestimated in assessing the consequences of flooding. The Indirect effects also have overbearing health implications: Damage to water supply systems; damage to sewerage and sewage disposal systems; insufficient supply of drinking-water; insufficient supply of water for washing; possible waterborne infections (enter pathogenic E.coli, Shigella, hepatitis A, leptospirosis, giardiasis, campylobacteriosis); dermatitis; conjunctivitis; disruption of transport systems food shortages; disruption of emergency response; disruption of underground piping; dislodgment of storage tanks; overflow of toxic waste sites; release of chemicals; disruption of petrol storage tanks, possibly leading to fire; Potential acute or chronic effects of chemical pollution; Standing water; heavy rainfall; expanded range of vector habitats; vector borne diseases; rodent migration; possible rodent-borne diseases disruption of social networks; loss of property; Clean-up activities following flooding Electrocution; injuries; lacerations; puncture wounds Destruction of primary food products Food shortages; damage to health services; disruption of "normal" health service activities; decrease in "normal" health care services; insufficient access to medical care. If your public water system lost pressure, a boil water notice will likely be issued for your area. People in these areas should take precautions to avoid contaminated water, especially individuals with private wells. If your well is in a flooded area, your water may contain disease-causing organisms and may not be safe to drink. VDH recommends the following: Boil water for at least one minute before using it for drinking, washing, cooking, etc. Disinfect water by adding eight drops (about one-eighth teaspoon—this would form a puddle about the size of a dime) of unscented household bleach per gallon of water, and then let it stand for 30 minutes. If the water is cloudy after 30 minutes, repeat the procedure Use only bottled water, especially for mixing baby formula. Here are some tips to follow for keeping you and your family healthy during a tropical storm and flooding: Use bottled water, especially for mixing baby formula. Boil water for at least one minute before using it for drinking, washing, cooking. Disinfect water by adding 8 drops (about 1/8 tsp - this would form a puddle about the size of a dime) of unscented household bleach per gallon of water, and then let it stand for 30 minutes. If the water is cloudy after 30 minutes, repeat the procedure. Use a container that has a cap or cover for disinfecting and storing water to be used for drinking. This will prevent contamination. After the flooding subsides, disinfect your well using the procedures available from your local health department, or provided on the Department of Health For more flood related issue, check out the links below: flood auckland city
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