PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO STAY SAFE DURING FLOODING

June 2, 2022
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO STAY SAFE DURING FLOODING
Contact:
Breanna Johnson
DOHCollierPIO@flhealth.gov
(239) 252-8228
Naples, Fla. — Heavy rains are predicted to impact our area this weekend. It is important to be prepared for flooding. The Florida Department of Health in Collier County (DOH-Collier)
emphasizes the importance of residents and visitors taking precautionary measures.
Moving Flood Water
During flooding, the greatest threat comes from moving water. The deeper the moving water, the greater the threat. People should avoid driving in moving water, regardless of the size of the
vehicle.
Pooling Flood Water
Heavy rain causes flood waters to rise and pool on streets and throughout neighborhoods. In these situations, be aware of the following:
• Road surfaces become disguised and drivers can unknowingly steer into a deep body of water, such as a canal or pond.
• Electricity from streetlights and power poles may be present in standing water, causing a deadly shock to anyone coming in contact with it.
• Children playing in contaminated standing water can become sick or be bitten by snakes or floating insects.
• People coming into contact with floodwaters should thoroughly wash and rinse any exposed body parts with soap and disinfected water.
Contaminated Water Supply
Drinking contaminated water may cause illness. Water in a flood-affected area may not be safe to drink. Listen to local announcements on safety of the water supply.
If the 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 consuming contaminated water. If your
well is in a flooded area, your water may contain disease-causing bacteria and may not be safe to drink.
DOH recommends one of the following:
• Boil water for at least 1 minute before using it for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes.
• 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.
• Use only bottled water, especially for mixing baby formula.
After the flooding subsides:
• Disinfect your well using the steps provided by your local health department, or located on the Department of Health’s website at http://www.floridahealth.gov/healthyenvironments/private-well-testing/_documents/Flooded_Well_Broc.pdf
• f available, have your water tested through your county health department or by a laboratory certified by the state to perform a drinking water analysis.
Contaminated Food
• Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with floodwaters.
• Discard any food without a waterproof container if there is any chance it has come into contact with floodwaters.
• Undamaged, commercially canned foods can be saved if you remove the labels thoroughly, wash the cans, and then disinfect them with a solution consisting of 1/4 cup
of unscented household bleach per gallon of water for clean surfaces.
• Re-label your cans, including the expiration date, with a marker. Food containers with screw-caps, snap lids and home canned foods should be discarded if they have come in
contact with floodwaters, because they cannot be disinfected.
Contaminated Items
• Discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers. There is no way to safely clean them if they have come in contact with contaminated floodwaters.
• Thoroughly wash metal pans, ceramic dishes and utensils with soap and hot water and sanitize by boiling them in clean water or by immersing them for 15 minutes in a solution of 1/4 cup of household bleach per gallon of water.
Hygiene
Basic hygiene is very important. Always wash your hands with soap and water that has been boiled or disinfected and cooled. Hands should be washed before preparing or eating food, after
using the bathroom or changing a diaper, after handling uncooked food, after playing with a pet, after handling garbage, after tending to someone who is sick or injured, after blowing your nose,
coughing, or sneezing, after helping in flood cleanup activities, and after handling items contaminated with flood water or sewage.
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About the Florida Department of Health in Collier County
The Florida Department of Health in Collier County, nationally accredited as part of an Integrated Local Public Health Department System by the Public Health Accreditation Board,
works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.
Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyCollier. For more information, please  visit collier.floridahealth.gov/

Hurricane Central - Preparedness Guide gives you the updated information you may need in the event of a hurricane. Just because 2021 was a quiet year for storms doesn't mean we can ever let our guard down. This guide is sponsored by local businesses here in SWFL. Gavin's Ace Hardware, Sean King Law, and Powerhouse Home Services.

Lee County:

Emergency Operations Center 239-533-0622

Bonita Springs YMCA – Bonita Springs

Island Coast High School – Cape Coral

Estero Recreation Center – Estero

Germain Arena – Estero

South Fort Myers High School (Pet Friendly) – Fort Myers

E. Lee County High School (Pet Friendly) – Lehigh Acres

Harns Marsh Elementary School – Lehigh Acres

Harns Marsh Middle School – Lehigh Acres

Mirror Lakes Elementary School – Lehigh Acres

Varsity Lakes Middle School – Lehigh Acres

Veterans Park Recreation Center – Lehigh Acres

Collier County

Emergency Operations Center: 239-252-3600

Highlands Elementary School – Immokalee

Immokalee Friendship House – Immokalee

Immokalee High School – Immokalee

Immokalee Middle School – Immokalee

Pinecrest Elementary School – Immokalee

Village Oaks Elementary – Immokalee

Barron Collier High School – Naples

Big Cypress Elementary – Naples

Corkscrew Elem/Middle School – Naples

Cypress Palm Middle School – Naples

Golden Gate Intermediate School – Naples

Golden Gate Middle School – Naples

Golden Gate High School – Naples

Golden Terrace Intermediate School – Naples

Gulf Coast Intermediate School – Naples

Gulf Coast High School – Naples

Laurel Oak Elementary School – Naples

Lely High School – Naples

Mike Davis Elementary School

Naples High School

North collier Regional Park (Pet Friendly) – Pre-registration is required

North Naples Middle School

Oakridge Middle School

Palmetto Ridge High School – Special Needs

Pelican Marsh Elementary

Sable Palm Elementary School

St. Matthews House

Veterans Community Park

Vineyards Elementary School

Charlotte County

Emergency Operations Center: 941-833-4000

*All Charlotte County shelters are now Pet Friendly

Lemon Bay High School – Englewood

Myakka River Elementary School – Englewood

Kingsway Elementary School – Port Charlotte

Liberty Elementary School – Port Charlotte

Meadow Park Elementary School – Port Charlotte

Murdock Middle School – Port Charlotte

Port Charlotte High School – Port Charlotte

Port Charlotte Middle School – Port Charlotte

Sallie Jones Elementary School -Punta Gorda

South County Regional Park -Punta Gorda

L.A. Ainger MIddle School – Rotonda

Vineland Elementary School – Rotonda

Hendry County

Emergency Operations Center: 863-674-5400

Central Elementary School – Clewiston

Clewiston High School – Clewiston

Clewiston Middle School (Primary Shelter) – Clewiston

Eastside Elementary School – Clewiston

Westside Elementary School – Clewiston

Country Oaks Elementary School – LaBelle

LaBelle Elementary School – LaBelle

LaBelle High School – LaBelle

LaBelle Middle School (Primary Shelter) – LaBelle

Glades County

Emergency Operations Center: 863-946-6020

Buckhead Ridge VFW – Buckhead Ridge

Maple Grove Baptist Church – Lakeport

Glades County Health Department (Special Needs) – Moore Haven

Moore Haven High School – Moore Haven

Muse Community Assn. – Muse

West Glades Elementary (Special Needs) – Muse

Desoto County

Emergency Operations Center – 863-993-4831

Desoto Middle School -Arcadia

South Florida State College (Special Needs) -Arcadia

Hurricane watch = conditions possible within the next 48 hrs.

Steps to take:

Hurricane warning = conditions are expected within 36 hrs.

Steps to take:

Follow the hurricane timeline preparedness checklist, depending on when the storm is anticipated to hit and the impact that is projected for your location.