(KTXL) — Strong storms have introduced flooding to many areas already this winter, like California, leaving flooding alongside roadways, city areas, rivers, creeks, and streams.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated it’s unknown what exactly could possibly be in floodwaters and that they might include many issues which are dangerous. According to the CDC, floodwater can include:

• Downed energy strains
• Human and livestock waste
• Household, medical, and industrial hazardous waste
• Coal ash waste that may include carcinogenic compounds reminiscent of arsenic, chromium, and mercury
• Other contaminants that may result in sickness
• Physical objects reminiscent of lumber, automobiles, and particles
• Wild or stray animals reminiscent of rodents and snakes

If you ever change into uncovered to contaminated floodwater, it may well trigger wound infections, pores and skin rash, gastrointestinal sickness, tetanus, and leptospirosis, in accordance with the CDC.

Federal well being officers stated leptospirosis, a bacterial illness unfold by way of the urine of contaminated animals, isn’t widespread. 

If uncovered to floodwater, the CDC stated to scrub your pores and skin with cleaning soap and water and wash your garments in scorching water and detergent earlier than reusing them.

If it is advisable enter floodwater, the CDC stated to put on rubber boots, rubber gloves and goggles. 

Returning to a property that flooded

Residents ought to take precautions when returning to a property that has been flooded, as constructing harm might have occurred. 

According to Sacramento County, some non-public septic programs, water wells, and different small water programs at residences and companies might be contaminated by floodwater. 

If you watched nicely water to be contaminated by floodwater, the county stated to not use or drink it. Until the water is protected to drink, the county recommends boiling water for no less than a minute or utilizing bottled water. 

As for meals probably coming in touch with floodwater, the county stated to not eat it and discard it if it’s not in a water-resistant container. Food containers that aren’t waterproof embody these with screw caps, snap lids, pull tops, and crimped caps. 

Undamaged canned meals might be saved, however labels have to be eliminated, washed with cleaning soap and water, and rinsed. Damaged canned meals present swelling, leakage, punctures, holes, fractures, in depth deep rusting, or denting. 

Cardboard juice, milk, child method bins, and residential canned meals have to be discarded if they arrive in touch with floodwaters as a result of the county stated they can’t be successfully cleaned and sanitized. 

If your fridge or freezer was submerged by floodwaters, even partially, the county stated it’s unsafe to make use of and should be discarded. Refrigerated meals which have been at temperatures over 41 levels for greater than 4 hours shouldn’t be eaten, in accordance with the county.