WISE – The Virginia Department of Health’s LENOWISCO, Cumberland Plateau, and Mount Rogers health districts want to advise those in the southwest region affected by the recent severe weather to use extreme caution to prevent injuries and foodborne illness in the aftermath of tropical storm Helene.
To keep you and your family healthy and safe, please remember to:
Discard any refrigerated food that you suspect has spoiled
Stay out of impacted areas; do not sightsee
Do not operate charcoal grills, propane camping stoves or generators indoors
Do not drive or walk through standing water
Stay away from downed power lines
It is especially important to take careful precautions to ensure food safety after a power outage. Discard any food that has been at room temperature for two hours or more, and any food that has an unusual odor, color or texture. Just remember, “When in doubt, throw it out!”
Check local announcements to see if any boil water advisories exist in your area and following the instructions in the advisory. People who rely on private wells for their water should consider their well contaminated if it was submerged or they believe it is possible the well became submerged during the storm. If you have specific questions after the storm, call your local health department or visit the VDH website.
Be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide. Deadly levels of the odorless, colorless gas that is poisonous to breathe can quickly build up when the exhaust from grills or generators is not properly vented. The gas emitted by these sources can linger for hours, even after the generator or grill has shut off. Operate all gasoline-powered devices such as generators outdoors and never bring them indoors.
Watch for the presence of excess moisture and standing water as it contributes to the growth of mold in homes and other buildings. When returning to a home that has been flooded, be aware that mold may be present and may be a health risk for your family.
As the outer bands associated with a tropical storm produced heavy rainfall throughout the area, flood waters may continue to rise and pool on streets and throughout neighborhoods. Watch for these flood prone areas. You should never attempt to walk or drive through moving water, as there is no way of telling its depth and swift moving water can carry away people or vehicles trying to cross it.
As cleanup is needed, be mindful of the amount of time spent outdoors removing debris after the tropical storm; work slowly to avoid exertion and to prevent back injury. Other steps to take to help prevent muscle and bone injury include:
Use teams of two or more to move bulky objects
Avoid lifting any material that weighs more than 50 pounds
Use proper automated-assist lifting devices
Use caution or seek professional assistance when removing fallen trees, cleaning up debris or using equipment, such as chain saws
Wear eye goggles while removing or cleaning up debris to prevent eye injuries
For more information, contact your local health department or you may contact the Cumberland Plateau Health District (serving Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell and Tazewell counties) at 276-889-7621; the LENOWISCO health district (serving the counties of Lee, Wise, and Scott and the City of Norton) at 276-328-8000; or the Mount Rogers Health District (serving Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth, Washington, and Wythe counties, and the cities of Bristol and Galax) at 276-236-6127 or visit www.vdh.virginia.gov.
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