Post Hurricane Safety Tips

(Salisbury, Md.) Hurricane Irene caused numerous power outages and resource shortages, making daily tasks a challenge for many Marylanders. Wicomico County health officials offer the following tips to help citizens perform storm cleanup activities and stay safe during the recovery process:
FOOD SAFETY
In the event of a power outage, perishable foods including meats, dairy products and eggs that have not been refrigerated for more than four hours and foods contaminated by flooding need to be discarded.

If your power comes back on after food in your freezer has begun to thaw, use an appliance thermometer to check the temperature in your freezer. Food stored in the freezer at 40° F or colder is safe and may be refrozen. If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, check each package of food to determine the safety. Do not rely on appearance or odor, when in doubt, throw it out. Wash hands after contact with raw meats and poultry.
WATER PURIFICATION
After a flooding event, consider water from wells and the community water suppliers unsafe until it has been tested for safe drinking conditions. When boiling water, bring it to a rolling boil for at least 3 minutes. You can add household chlorine bleach to your water to disinfect it. Do not use bleach with fragrances or detergents. Add 8 drops of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (household bleach) per gallon of water and allow it to sit for 30 minutes before using it.
FLOOD SAFETY
Walking, swimming or driving through floodwaters is extremely dangerous. If you are driving and come upon floodwaters, stop, turn around, and go another way. A shallow depth of fast-moving floodwater produces more force than most people imagine. Even six inches of swiftly moving water can knock you off your feet and two feet of water will carry away most automobiles. Do not drive where water is covering the road. The pavement could already be washed away underneath.

 

GENERATOR SAFETY
Portable generators can be hazardous if used improperly.
To avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning:Operate generators outdoors only in a well-ventilated, dry area, away from air intakes to the home, and protected from direct exposure to rain (preferably under a canopy, open shed, or carport). Never use a generator indoors or in attached garages.To avoid electrocution:

• Plug individual appliances into the generator using heavy duty, outdoor rated cords with a wire gauge adequate for the appliance load.
• Observe the generator manufacturer's instructions for safe operation.
• Do not plug the generator into a wall outlet.
• If connecting the generator into the house wiring is necessary, have a qualified electrician hook up the standby electrical system.

CHAINSAW SAFETY
With thousands of trees down across the state, many people may choose to use chainsaws to remove this debris. The following tips will help you avoid serious injury when using these powerful tools:

 

• Wear protective clothing, including gloves to give you a good grip, a hard hat, safety goggles, hearing protection, steel-toed shoes with non-slip soles and trim-fitted clothing that won't get caught in the chain.
• Follow instructions in the owner's manual for starting and operating the saw.
• Stand to the side of the saw so you won't follow the cut through into your leg.
• Hold the saw parallel to the ground with your left arm straight for better control and to reduce the chance of "kick back."
• Keep both hands on the saw while it is running.
• Avoid cutting above mid-chest height.
• Never try to cut a tree with a diameter greater than the length of the chainsaw blade.
• Be extremely careful when cutting limbs or stems of trees that are bent or under tension; the branch can spring back into the operator.
• Carry the saw below the waist with the engine off and bar pointed to the rear.
• Do not work alone. Have a companion nearby and keep bystanders and helpers at a safe distance so they will not be injured by the saw, flying chips, sawdust or a falling tree.