What to Do During and After a Hurricane

During Hurricane
 Listen to the radio or TV for information.
 Secure your home, close storm shutters, and secure outdoor objects or bring them indoors.
 Turn off utilities if instructed to do so. Otherwise, turn the refrigerator thermostat to its coldest setting and keep its doors closed.
Turn off propane tanks.
 Avoid using the phone, except for serious emergencies.
 Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purpose such as cleaning and flushing toilets. Fill the bathtub and other larger containers with water. Find out how to keep food safe during and after an emergency.

When Flooding Occurs — Keep Food Safe
Follow these steps to keep your FOOD SAFE during — and after — flood conditions.

Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with flood water.
Discard any food that is not in a waterproof container if there is any chance that it has come into contact with flood water. Food containers that are not waterproof include those with screw-caps, snap lids, pull tops, and crimped caps. Also, discard cardboard juice/milk/baby formula boxes and home canned foods if they have come in contact with flood water, because they cannot be effectively cleaned and sanitized.
Inspect canned foods and discard any food in damaged cans. Can damage is shown by swelling, leakage, punctures, holes, fractures, extensive deep rusting, or crushing/denting severe enough to prevent normal stacking or opening with a manual, wheel-type can opener.
Undamaged, commercially prepared foods in all-metal cans and "retort pouches" (like flexible, shelf-stable juice or seafood pouches) can be saved if you follow this procedure: Remove the labels, if they are the removable kind, since they can harbor dirt and bacteria. Brush or wipe away any dirt or silt. Thoroughly wash the cans or retort pouches with soap and water, using hot water if it is available. Rinse the cans or retort pouches with water that is safe for drinking, if available, since dirt or residual soap will reduce the effectiveness of chlorine sanitation.

Clean Your Home and Stop Mold
 TAKE OUT ITEMS THAT HAVE SOAKED UP WATER AND THAT CANNOT BE CLEANED AND DRIED.
 FIX WATER LEAKS. USE FANS OPEN DOORS AND WINDOWS TO REMOVE MOISTURE.
 TO REMOVE MOLD, MIX 1 CUP OF BLEACH IN 1 GALLON OF WATER, WASH THE ITEM WITH THE BLEACH MIXTURE, SCRUB ROUGH SURFACES WITH A STIFF BRUSH, RINSE THE ITEM WITH CLEAN WATER, THEN DRY IT OR LEAVE IT TO DRY.
 TO CLEAN HARD SURFACES THAT DO NOT SOAK UP WATER AND THAT MAY HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH FLOODWATER, FIRST WASH WITH SOAP AND CLEAN WATER. NEXT DISINFECT WITH A MIXTURE OF 1 CUP OF BLEACH IN 5 GALLONS OF WATER. THEN ALLOW TO AIR DRY.
 NEVER MIX BLEACH AND AMMONIA. THE FUMES FROM THE MIXTURE COULD KILL YOU.

Boil water
 IF A "BOIL WATER" ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT, DO NOT DRINK TAP WATER OR USE IT TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH UNLESS WATER HAS COME TO A ROLLING BOIL FOR AT LEAST 1 MINUTE OR IS TREATED WITH UNSCENTED HOUSEHOLD CHLORINE BLEACH. TO TREAT WATER, ADD 1/4 TEASPOON (APPROXIMATELY 1.5 ML) BLEACH TO 1 GALLON OF CLOUDY WATER OR 1/8 TEASPOON (APPROXIMATELY 0.75 ML) BLEACH TO 1 GALLON OF CLEAR WATER . STIR WELL AND LET IT STAND FOR 30 MINUTES BEFORE YOU USE IT.
 DO NOT EAT FOOD THAT SMELLS BAD, LOOKS BAD, OR HAS TOUCHED FLOODWATER. WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW FOOD OUT.

Avoid Contact with Animals and Insects
 REDUCE MOSQUITO BITES. CONSIDER AVOIDING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES DURING THE EVENING AND EARLY MORNING, WHICH ARE PEAK BITING TIMES FOR MANY MOSQUITOES. USE AN INSECT REPELLENT WITH DEET OR PICARIDIN.
 STAY AWAY FROM WILD OR STRAY ANIMALS. STRAY DOGS MAY BE HURT OR AFRAID AND MAY BITE. CALL LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO HANDLE ANIMALS.
 GET RID OF DEAD ANIMALS ACCORDING TO LOCAL GUIDELINES

Personal Hygiene and Handwashing After a Disaster or Emergency
 GOOD BASIC PERSONAL HYGIENE AND HANDWASHING ARE CRITICAL TO HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF ILLNESS AND DISEASE. CLEAN, SAFE RUNNING WATER IS ESSENTIAL FOR PROPER HYGIENE AND HANDWASHING.
 HYGIENE IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IN AN EMERGENCY SUCH AS A FLOOD, HURRICANE, OR EARTHQUAKE, BUT FINDING CLEAN, SAFE RUNNING WATER CAN SOMETIMES BE DIFFICULT. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WILL HELP TO ENSURE GOOD HYGIENE AND HANDWASHING IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY

How to MAKE CLEANING WATER
If tap water is clear:
1. Use bleach that does not have an added scent (like lemon).
2. Add 1/8 teaspoon (8 drops or about 0.75 milliliters) of household liquid bleach to 1 gallon (16 cups) of water.
3. Mix well and wait 30 minutes or more before drinking
If tap water is cloudy:
1. Use bleach that does not have an added scent (like lemon).
2. Add 1/4 teaspoon (16 drops or 1.5 milliliters) of household liquid bleach to 1 gallon (16 cups) of water.
3. Mix well and wait 30 minutes or more before drinking.