Officials provide flood safety information

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People should wait until authorities have declared a flood zonesafe before re-entering it and be aware of flood debris such asbroken glass, metal and wood.
Wearing rubber or dry leather gloves and a hard hat in a flood areawill provide extra protection, she said.
According to Sampson, stay at least 50 feet away from wholly orpartially submerged downed electrical wires.
Houses and buildings that are still holding flood water are veryhazardous and extreme caution is needed, Sampson said.
People should walk around the perimeter and check for signs ofundermining, cave-ins, shifting or collapsing.
"Do not enter a building if it doesn't appear structurally sound,"Sampson said. "Check with the electric and gas companies to see ifpower and gas are turned off to prevent electrical shock, fire orexplosions."
Return to homes and businesses during daytime hours to avoid usinglighting.
"If you smell gas, turn off the main gas valve, open windows andimmediately exit the house," Sampson said. "Contact your local gascompany or the police or fire departments and do not re-enter thehouse until they tell you it's safe to do so."
Once a house is cleared for clean up, mold prevention is animportant process.
"Walls and hard surfaced floors can be cleaned with soap and waterand then disinfected with a solution of one-half cup of bleach pergallon of water," Sampson said.
Drywall, wall coverings and cloth should be discarded if they camein contact with the flood water.
Linens and clothing should be washed in hot water or dry cleaned.Large items like mattresses and furniture can be air dried and thensprayed with disinfectant.
"Carpeting must be cleaned and dried within a two day time periodto prevent mildew," Sampson said.
Open windows for drying and ventilation purposes and to preventmold growth.
"It is important not to rebuild walls or replace drywall, untilsuch areas are thoroughly dried out and have been properlydisinfected to prevent mold growth," Sampson said.
An important safety tip to remember is good hand washing becauseflood waters may contain fecal material from overflowing sewagesystems, or from agricultural operations such as feed lots.
"Wash with soap and clean uncontaminated water," Sampson said.
Besides proper washing, it is imperative for people to have currentimmunizations.
"Historically, outbreaks of communicable disease are uncommon afterflood emergencies," Sampson said. "But if anyone receives apuncture wound or had a wound contaminated with flood waters theyshould consult their doctor."
She added a tetanus booster shot may be necessary.
Another after flood concern is the abundance of mosquitoes becauselarge amounts of standing water can possibly contribute to a largemosquito population, Sampson said.
"Wear long sleeved and long legged clothing and use repellentscontaining DEET," Sampson said.
Drain all standing water left in containers around the home toreduce mosquito breeding areas and to control mosquito populations,she added.
"It is a possibility that the mosquito population will rise but wedon't want to create any unnecessary concern at this point,"Sampson said.