When people think about flooding, they usually think about rising water, damaged homes, stranded vehicles and the possibility of drowning. But one of the biggest dangers may begin after the water has already entered a community. Floodwater can become a dangerous mixture of sewage, chemicals, debris, electrical hazards, animal waste and disease causing organisms, making the water itself a serious health and safety threat.
The World Health Organization says drowning accounts for about 75 percent of deaths in flood disasters, while other deaths can result from injuries, electrocution, heart attacks, carbon monoxide poisoning and fires. Flooding can also create health problems that continue long after the water disappears, including waterborne and vector borne diseases.
You Cannot See Everything in Floodwater
One of the most dangerous things about floodwater is what may be underneath its surface.
Water can cover open drainage channels, broken roads, manholes, pieces of metal, broken glass, fallen trees and other debris. A person walking through what appears to be shallow water could step into a hole or suffer an injury without knowing what caused it.
The CDC warns that floodwater can contain physical hazards such as lumber, vehicles and debris, as well as human and animal waste, hazardous chemicals and other contaminants.
This is why swimming ability does not necessarily make someone safe. Fast moving water can knock a person off balance, while even relatively shallow water can become dangerous when visibility is poor or the ground beneath it is unstable.
Floodwater Can Carry Disease
Flooding can overwhelm drainage and sewage systems, allowing untreated wastewater to enter streets, homes and other areas where people live.
Contact with contaminated water can expose people to germs that cause gastrointestinal illness and wound infections. WHO also identifies diseases such as cholera, typhoid and malaria as potential concerns associated with flooding and contaminated water sources.
The danger does not necessarily end when the floodwater recedes. Contaminated wells, food, household items and surfaces can continue to expose people to harmful organisms.
There Could Be Electricity in the Water
Another danger that is easy to overlook is electricity.
Floodwater can come into contact with damaged electrical systems, exposed wiring and fallen power lines. Because water conducts electricity, entering an area with hidden electrical hazards can result in severe injury or death.
The CDC advises people to stay away from fallen power lines and avoid driving through standing water where downed lines may be present. People should also avoid using electrical equipment while standing in water.
Chemicals and Waste Can Also Be Carried Into the Water
Floodwater does not only move soil and rainwater. It can also move whatever is stored on the ground.
Fuel, pesticides, household chemicals, industrial substances, medical waste and other hazardous materials can be displaced during flooding. A person may therefore be exposed to a dangerous substance without being able to identify it simply by looking at the water.
The CDC warns that flooding can release household, medical and industrial chemicals into the environment.
The Safest Floodwater Is the Water You Avoid
The most important rule is simple: do not walk or drive through floodwater unless there is no safe alternative and appropriate emergency guidance is available.
If contact occurs, wash exposed skin with soap and clean water as soon as possible. Open wounds should be protected from floodwater because contaminated water can increase the risk of infection. Drinking water that may have been contaminated by flooding should also be avoided until it has been confirmed safe.
Floods can be devastating, but the danger does not disappear when the rain stops. Sometimes, the water left behind is carrying hazards that cannot be seen, smelled or immediately understood.
Floodwater may look like water. Treat it like a hazard.
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