Preparing and Responding to Disaster: Flood Edition
Fire, flood, pestilence…I expect to see some horsemen racing through my front yard shortly.
A solid safety professional’s going to take these disasters in stride. They may not have developed a contingency plan for every possibility out there (I bet alien invasion’s low on their preparedness list). But, they’ve most likely got a framework to address emergencies, with some gallows humor thrown in for sport.
Flood preparation and response are probably higher on your priority list than alien invasion. So, here are some resources to help you build out your plan.
Start at the Beginning: Your Emergency Response Plan
An organization with a systematized, comprehensive emergency response plan can effectively minimize risks and save lives before, during, and after an emergency. We’re talking about the difference between an inevitable incident and its escalation into something much worse.
We’ve developed some recommendations on creating your emergency response plan. And OSHA’s got some excellent guidance when it comes to floods in particular.
Recovering from Floods
Floodwaters may contain many hazards, including infectious organisms, intestinal bacteria, and other disease agents. Precautions should be taken by anyone involved in cleanup activities or any others who may be exposed to floodwaters.
Avoid contact with floodwater
Protect yourself from water with the potential of elevated levels of contamination associated with raw sewage and other hazardous or toxic substances that may be in the floodwater. In addition, these waters can carry large objects that are not always visible, which can cause injury to individuals in the water. Other potential hazards include electrical shock from downed power lines or electrical wires and possible injuries inflicted by animals (snakes) displaced by the floodwaters.
OSHA’s got a solid collection of fact sheets and quick cards with details on hazards often present in flooded areas:
Wait for officials to give the all-clear before returning to your home or business.
When it is safe to return, take the following precautions:
Protect Yourself from Electrical Hazards
Helpful Links:
Doomsday Preppers, or…ahem…Safety Professionals, We’re Here to Help
Some football coach somewhere said, “The best defense is a good offense.” Novara’s here to help you build that offense using strategic tools, talent, and training to keep you prepared for whatever life throws at you next.
