DHSS Press Release

FOOD, WATER AND SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS FOR HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS

Delawareans should adopt practices to keep their food, water and homes safe while weathering Hurricane Isabel this week. Delaware's Division of Public Health (DPH) urges residents and visitors to obtain bottled water and non-perishable foods in preparation for potential power failure and problems with water systems. Home maintenance and safety measures are also important to prevent injuries and indoor air quality problems.

Flooding can introduce impurities to both public and private drinking water sources. Property owners whose homes, rental units and businesses are supplied water from an individual private well should be aware of potential health hazards should their wells become submerged. This is especially critical for drinking water wells with wellheads that are above ground. Buried wells are less susceptible to the affects of flooding and are not likely to be adversely impacted. As a precaution, purchase enough bottled water to provide one gallon per person per day.

If you suspect your drinking water wellhead has become flooded, take the following precautions:

• Boil tap water for one minute and let it cool before drinking or using it to cook, bathe or wash dishes. By boiling the water, you should avoid becoming ill from bacteria or other microorganisms that may have contaminated the well.
• Test your well water before using it. DPH will provide free drinking water test kits to detect contamination from bacteria and nitrates. Test kits will be available at the following sites:
  • Limestone Building
    2005 Limestone Rd., Suite 300
    Wilmington
    (302) 995-8650
  • Williams State Service Center
    805 River Rd., Dover
    (302) 739-5305
  • Delaware Public Health Laboratory
    30 Sunnyside Rd., Smyrna
    (302) 653-2870
  • Georgetown State Service Center
    544 S. Bedford St., Georgetown
    (302) 856-5496

The U.S. Department of Agriculture suggests these actions to keep foods safe during disasters and loss of power:

• Purchase shelf-stable food, bread, boxed or canned milk and canned goods as an emergency food supply. Be sure to keep a hand-held can opener for an emergency. Keep emergency food on a shelf safe from floodwaters.
• Remember to include baby formula and pet food as needed.
• Never taste food or rely on appearance or odor to determine its safety. If food contains ice crystals or is 40 degrees F or below, it is safe to refreeze.
• Keep meat, poultry, fish and eggs refrigerated at or below 40 degrees F and frozen food at or below 0 degrees F. Keep appliance thermometers in the refrigerator and freezer at all times.
• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to maintain the cold temperatures. Foods will keep safely cold for about four hours in an unopened refrigerator. Frozen foods will keep safely frozen for about 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) in a closed freezer. If the freezer is not full, place items close together.
• Fifty pounds of dry ice should keep a full 18-cubic foot freezer cold for two days. Coolers and frozen gel packs can help keep food cold if the power will be out more than four hours.

Take these precautions to avoid problems that could lead to mold, indoor air pollution and injury:

• Clear rain gutters and downspouts.
• Make sure sump pumps are working. Check the float and see if the switch triggers properly.
• Use tape and plastic to temporarily close gaps around windows and doors.
• Clear outside drains of debris, using a snake if needed.
• If your well pump has been flooded, do not turn on the breaker until an electrician has checked it. This places you in danger of receiving an electric shock.
• Do not use portable generators or gas motor pumps indoors. Exhaust from such equipment releases dangerous carbon monoxide into the air.

For more information, see DPH's website at www.state.de.us/dhss/dph/index.html.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.