Information on returning to your property safely, cleaning up after flooding, carbon monoxide poisoning
The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services is advising residents to take precautions when dealing with power outages and working to clean up their homes and businesses after flooding.
Residents should wear protective items such as boots, gloves, goggles and protective clothing. It is also important to limit or avoid direct contact with flood water and wash hands routinely and thoroughly to prevent infection.
Residents should use fans and dehumidifiers to remove excess moisture. To prevent mold, wash surface areas in your home or business and items that came in contact with floodwater with bleach solution and wipe surfaces dry with paper towels to minimize bacterial contamination. Other tips on returning to your home after it has been followed are available at http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/returnhome.asp.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is also another risk when using generators to power homes. Carbon monoxide is a health concern because at elevated levels it is poisonous. If your home has lost power never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal burning device inside your home, basement, garage, or even outside near an open window. The use of these devices can cause dangerous levels of carbon monoxide (CO) to build in your house. The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion.
DHSS urges everyone to purchase a CO detector regardless of whether or not you have been impacted by the storm. Should a CO detector alarm sound, be sure to leave your house immediately and call the fire department. More than 400 people die each year in the United States due to CO poisoning. Please visit: http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/carbonmonoxide.asp for information on preventing CO poisoning after a disaster.
Residents and business owners who have been displaced by flooding, loss of power or other damage from Hurricane Irene can get guidance from the Department's toll-free Public Health Call Center and on the Department's website at nj.gov/health.
Residents may reach health experts in the Public Health Information Call Center by calling 1-866-234-0964. The call center will be open from 8 am to 8 pm Monday through Friday and during the weekend and Labor Day Monday from 10 am to 5 pm.
In addition to the Department's Call Center and website, residents with questions about carbon monoxide and other issues related to poisoning may visit New Jersey's Poison Information & Education System (NJPIES) at www.NJPIES.com or by calling NJPIES toll free at 1-800-222-1222.
Other useful resource links and phone numbers on the DHSS webpage include:
New Jersey Office of Emergency Management - http://www.state.nj.us/njoem/
NJ 2-1-1 Hurricane Response and Recovery Guide - http://nj211.org/hurricane.cfm
Price Gouging Concerns: Call Division of Community Affairs - 1-800-242-5846 - http://www.njconsumeraffairs.com/
CDC Hurricane Information - http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/?s_cid=emergency_006