Perils of Flood Water it is much more toxic than it appears to be, read this blog and discover why.

Rinse off after coming in contact with the flood water, it's toxic. 

Flood water appears to be merely another body of water, some of it is moving rapidly some doesn't move at all. It comes from many different places winter snow run-off, breached levees, heavy rainfall, and natural disasters. Coursing its way across flat-lands, down mountain slopes, past industrial facilities, and recreational areas picking up any and all contaminates on its way. Everything from fertilizers, pesticides, and solvents all the way to animal feces, petroleum products, and industrial chemicals are carried away by the immense quantities of water. During flood events exotic pets, reptilian and mammal alike are either drowned or during the violence of the storm cages are broken open and the animals are released to breed and overpopulate the area. There are many faces of flood water, the initial flow cascading through towns and highways, then evolving to stagnant pools harboring habitat for insects, molds, and amphibians. the subject of this blog is the "Perils of Flood Water", in it I describe some of the dangers, safety precautions, and toxins carried in it. 

While looking through the National Geographic website I came upon a disturbing photograph of a young girl chest deep in the flood waters generated by the Hurricane Florence. Understand I am of the mind that a child's photograph should not be displayed on the internet for any reason, but that's just me, this one was particularly disturbing. Flood water should never be used for any reason what so ever, let alone recreation. 45 years after being exposed to agent orange in Vietnam the symptoms became apparent, I fear the same for this little girl so innocently playing in the seemingly safe pool. What is in the flood waters that make it so very toxic? Read on to find out.

What dangers are carried in the flood waters? 

Snakes habitat is commonly near waterways and when a flood occurs they are swept away from their familiar surroundings and end up in some of the most unsuspecting places. Normally living in environments well removed from people, the ones we see on the roads and paths are a minority, when flooding dislocates them they may be seeing humans for the first time in their lives. That initial exposure makes them especially watchful and on alert ready to strike at a moments notice. Carried by the flood waters current they are destined to ride the current out until they are deposited on the high ground or a structure exposed above the water line. Thirty-seven species of snakes are native to North Carolina, six of them are venomous.  First is the Copperhead, Canebrake, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, followed by the Pigmy Rattlesnake, the dreaded Water Moccasin (Cottonmouth), and last the rarest of them the Coral Snake. During normal times Snake bites are relatively rare, the Copperhead is the most likely culprit when a snakebite is suffered. The Copperhead is the Carolina's most common venomous snake. If you are bitten call 911 immediately, do not attempt the old failed responses such as cutting, sucking the venom out, or the use of a tourniquet, those actions may cause infection leading to loss of a limb, or in extreme cases death.

A Photograph of a Copperhead Snake.

Petroleum Hydrocarbon Fuels; gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and oils, spill from vehicles, are lifted from underground tanks, and industries manufacturing them. The level of toxicity varies depending upon the location of the fuel, additives to improve engine performance, altitude, the intended use of the fuel, and climate among many other factors. Making the establishment of a broad brush response usable during any flood anywhere impossible. However many potential health effects of most fuels and the toxicity of the chemicals have been studied and are well known, this makes treatment relatively standard for some commonly shared additives. Benzene, Toluene, Xylene, and Ethylbenzene (BTEX) are the chemicals contained in gasoline and diesel fuels. Entering the bloodstream through inhalation, or absorption through the skin they are then absorbed by every organ in the body. All creatures mammal and reptilian, suffer the same consequences. Often displaying very obvious symptoms helping to narrow down the cause of illness.

Symptoms of exposure to BTEX include: 

Exposed to a high level for a short time;
1) Dizziness 2) A headache 3) Nausea 4) Vomiting 5) Fatigue 6) Disorientation 7) Depression 8) Loss of consciousness 9) a cough 10) a sore throat 11) Nose lesions and blisters

Low-level long-term exposure;
1) Dry cracked skin 2) Short-term memory loss 3) Concentration becomes difficult 4) Decrease in the attention span

Treatments depend upon how the toxin entered the body, the length of exposure, and the level of the toxins that enter the bloodstream. That is why inhalation causes respiratory problems, and absorption through the skin manifests itself in the form of rashes, welts, and blisters as well as irritating chronic skin issues such as eczema. Seek medical care if any of these symptoms appear after exposure to floodwater, or a fuel spill.

Overflowing of water treatment plants, hazardous wastes sites, large-scale animal feedlots, and sewage systems contaminates the floodwater with all of the nastiness imaginable. Feedlots for raising the animals used in our food chain create a large amount of waste in the form of urine and feces. It is a common practice for the operators to have an area designated as a disposal site for these materials. Pens must be cleaned out daily and separated from the animals to keep them safe from disease. High water fills these areas during a flood and upon reaching a high level will carry the contaminates with it as it flows downhill. Water takes the easiest route, the path of least resistance which translates into meeting up with a stream, river, and eventually when the amount of water reaches flood stage the solids are deposited on lawns, highways, and inside homes. Receding water deposits the filth on the ground when it stops flowing, meaning it is everywhere the water was.

Bodies of animals that have drowned in the flood, this is a very
grim sight.

Thousands of animals die during floods, drowned and bloated they are also carried in the water to the lowest points, it's all heading downhill. The rotting carcasses in stagnant water create a very deadly illness known as Cholera, so effective in causing illness that in centuries past water sources were contaminated with corpses by advancing armies.

Water treatment plants when flooded send human waste out with the water when it overflows the containment areas. It may also be carried for many miles distant from the purification plants to be deposited where ever the water stops and lets the sludge settle to the ground to be exposed when the once flooded area dries.

Tetanus, E-Cola, Salmonella, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Paratyphoid, and Shigella are common illnesses suffered by victims of flood water. Tetanus may be contracted when an open sore is exposed to the contaminants, the remaining illnesses are brought on by ingesting the water or contaminated foods. Known as "lockjaw" Tetanus may appear weeks after exposure, making the connection is critical for the type of treatment needed.

Agricultural and Industrial sites are swept clean by the water racing through the fields, plants, and structures carrying all of the chemicals along with it. Often the contaminants are unknown, the water has been exposed to many different locations, and every type of chemical used to maintain our lifestyle. Symptoms similar to exposure to fuels are common when industrial and farm chemicals are the cause.

Recreational areas contribute to the toxic stew as well, Golf courses, Parks, entertainment venues, airports, and roads contain hydrocarbon fuels and oil, pesticides, fertilizers, paint, and cleaning chemicals all carried in the flood of water. Contaminating all in its path, making matters worse we do not know the concentrations or makeup of the nastiness.

These are by far not a complete accounting of the toxins or dangers in floodwater, but there is another very important issue that must be addressed when the floodwater recedes or dries.

Disease and nastiness is not the only outcome of flooding.

It is paramount for residents in a flood zone to purchase flood insurance, without it all of the costs incurred after a flood is upon the property owners. In many locals, such as the one I live in, make flood insurance mandatory, purchased through FEMA it costs me $2,000.00 per year.

Equally as important is paying attention to our water supplies, the utility supplied water may take several days or even weeks to be re-established and safe to be used. An entirely different aspect of potable water is if it is supplied by a water well, after a flood the well is contaminated. The floodwater enters the well from the top of the well, sinking to the bottom of the water supply all of the toxins carried over the wellhead enter our wells. The entire well system must be inspected and cleared by the local permit department for the equipment, the threat of electrocution is very real around soaked electrical equipment. The purity of the water must be determined in a lab designed for water quality testing, do not use the water until it is given a clean report by your local health department. The well may have to be flushed for many days or perhaps up to a week or longer. Do not use well water after a flood.

As I was looking at the little girl in the photograph playing in the water all of these issues and more went racing through my mind, we don't know what is in that water. Whatever is floating in it is not good, and the long-term health impacts may not be known for many years, as in my case with agent orange, decades. I realize first responders, rescue personnel, and law enforcement are tasked with caring for the victims, most of them wear protective clothing. Hip boots, rubber gloves, respirators, and goggles are some of the gear worn by them, they are well aware of the dangers. Consumption of water is critical, only drink from containers that had been sealed prior to the flood, being sure to wash the container if it contacted the intruding water. Food as well should be consumed with caution, and that had been in contact with the water must be disposed of. Food crops and animals that came in contact with the flood must be avoided as well, it sounds dire because it is. A flood is a genuine apocalyptic event, evacuation is the normal course of action, preparation for the disaster is one of the most important activities those of us in a flood zone can participate in.

We are foolish to wait until the storm is upon us, make a decision
to make a plan and get prepared for a disaster.

Invariably prior to a disaster, the major news outlets show the lines of people outside grocery, hardware, and big box stores to prepare at the last minute. Unfortunately, that is far too late, a lucky few will be able to purchase the needed supplies, most will end up not getting the amount of water, food, and emergency gear needed. Most of us are well aware of FEMA's recommendation to keep on hand ample supplies for our families lasting 72 hours. I have always recommended a one week supply for each member of the family, that is one 24 count case of pint bottles of water for each family member. That is enough to supply one person for a seven day period, from the looks of it that is not enough for Hurricane Florence, the rivers won't peak until tomorrow in many cases. We are in a classic position, these numbers can be applied to almost all of our lives challenges. It is estimated 30% of us have a 72 hour supply at the ready in the form of a portable evacuation kit, 30% of us know we should and want to supply ourselves and families but for a multitude of reasons we just don't do it, then the remaining 30% refuse to realize the threat, taking the attitude of it will never happen. It does happen, and to many of us it will happen, determining what our particular areas threats are then preparing for them takes a small amount of time compared to the possible outcome.

{Follow this Link to FEMA's planning templates}

This blog could go on for another 6,000 words but I feel as if I have made my point, don't mess around with floodwater, we don't know what's in it. Thanks for reading and sharing my blog, I feel this is one of the most important issues to stress in the niche I occupy with my blog and website. My wife and I live the preparedness lifestyle, we have kits set up, water stored, and a nominal amount of food. It may be because we live in a flood and earthquake zone, as well as a wildfire area. If I rely on Government aid to rescue me and my family I believe I am fooling my self, we will expect rescue at some point, but how long may we have to wait for it is an open question. Our goal is to be prepared to the point of being able to help our neighbors, friends, and family as well as ourselves, I know for a fact few of my neighbors have made any planning at all. Thanks again for reading and sharing this blog.

A typical two person 72-hour kit, or 6 days for one person, available here.

jacquesandkate  emergencykitsplus.com