Last updated on September 28th, 2022 at 02:16 pm
Be aware of flood hazards no matter where you live, but especially if you live in a low-lying area, near water or downstream from a dam. Floodwater can be contaminated by pollutants including sewage, human and animal feces, pesticides and insecticides, fertilizers, oil, asbestos, rusting building materials, and more. While most public attention is focused on property loss caused by floods, protecting your own health is more important. Although there are no guarantees of safety during a flood, you can take actions to protect yourself.
Mold
Mold is part of the natural environment. Higher concentrations of mold and bacteria can be found after a flood. This causes the production of Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds (mVOCs), which emit chemical like odors and can become noxious respiratory irritants. Learn more about respiratory health best practices from AgriSafe.
Chemicals
If a chemical, pesticide or hazardous waste spill occurs, chemicals might be released from barns, homes, and other sources into the environment. Chemical spills could release vapors or chemical fumes. Learn more about chemical safety from AgriSafe.
Livestock
Floods can potentially increase the transmission of communicable diseases: Water-Borne (Hepatitis A); Vector-Borne (West Nile Virus); Bacterial (Tetanus) spores and Fungal (Histoplasmosis) spores found in dust, dirt, animal droppings and animal carcass.
Water Sources
Water may not be safe to drink, cook or clean with after a flood. Water can become contaminated with microorganisms such as bacteria, sewage, heating oil, agricultural or industrial waste, chemicals and other substances that can cause serious illness.
Heat Related Illnesses
Disaster recovery is physically strenuous, especially in hot temperatures. Intense heat exposure can cause Heat Related Illnesses. Signs include excessive thirst, weakness, headache, loss of consciousness, nausea and vomiting, muscle cramps, and dizziness.
Mental Stress
After a natural disaster, you’re dealing with the extra stress of current conditions, along with the daily stress of farm and ranch operations. Natural disasters such as floods create a tremendous amount of additional stress and anxiety. You may develop major depression, generalized anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Learn more about mental health from AgriSafe.
Flood Resources
Documents
| ID | Title | Summary | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12776 | Amenaza para la salud en la granja por inundaciones | A Spanish language guide to help farmers protect themselves from warm weather farm flood health threats. | |
| 12784 | Amenazas para la salud por inundaciones en la granja: Factores de riesgo durante la recuperación en invierno | A Spanish language guide to help farmers protect themselves during winter floods. | |
| 9539 | Directrices provisionales para proteger a los trabajadores contra el lodo y las aguas residuales de las actividades ganaderas y avícolas, durante y después de las inundaciones | The purpose of this Spanish language guidance is to protect workers from illnesses and injuries associated with livestock and poultry wastewater and sludge from animal feeding operations during and after floods. | |
| 9394 | Entering And Cleaning Up Flooded Homes | Protect yourself and your family during cleanup. | |
| 12497 | Farm and Ranch Health Threats After a Flood | Disaster recovery can be as dangerous as the disaster itself, especially if no disaster preparedness plan was implemented. This is especially true on farms and ranches where inherent farm hazards such as machinery and equipment, livestock, and agriculture chemicals are displaced and co-mingle, putting all emergency response personnel, farm workers and family members in danger. Floods can heighten the risk of health threats such as mold, tetanus bacteria, contaminated well water, heat illness and high stress. This presentation will highlight basic precautions to prevent possible diseases and injuries during and after flooding. | |
| 9542 | Farm Flood Health Threats – Cold Weather | A guide to help farmers protect themselves during winter floods. | |
| 9540 | Farm Flood Health Threats – Warm Weather | A guide to help farmers protect themselves from warm weather farm flood health threats. | |
| 9393 | Flood Recovery Checklists for Farmsteads | This publication is for farmers and ranchers affected by flooding. | |
| 12766 | Flood Resources Toolkit | Social media graphics for flood risks. | |
| 9538 | Interim Guidance for Protecting Workers from Livestock and Poultry Wastewater and Sludge During and After Floods | The purpose of this guidance is to protect workers from illnesses and injuries associated with livestock and poultry wastewater and sludge from animal feeding operations during and after floods. | |
| 12768 | Material necesario en caso de inundación | Spanish language social media graphics for flood risks. | |
| 9395 | Pesticide Storage Concerns During and After a Flood | A resource about immediate actions to take after a storm when floodwaters or a storage facility could potentially be contaminated with pesticide. | |
| 12537 | Safe and Healthy Recovery After a Farm Flood | Disaster recovery can be as dangerous as the disaster itself, especially if no disaster preparedness plan was implemented. This is especially true on farms and ranches where inherent farm hazards such as machinery and equipment, livestock, and agriculture chemicals are displaced and co-mingle, putting all emergency response personnel, farm workers and family members in danger. Floods can heighten the risk of health threats such as mold, tetanus bacteria, contaminated well water, heat illness and high stress. This presentation will highlight basic precautions to prevent possible diseases and injuries during and after flooding. | |
| 9532 | What to Do After the Flood | Precautions to take after a flood, regarding well and pump inspections. |
Webinars
| Webinar Title | Summary | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Farm and Ranch Health Threats After a Flood | Disaster recovery can be as dangerous as the disaster itself, especially if no disaster preparedness plan was implemented. This is especially true on farms and ranches where inherent farm hazards such as machinery and equipment, livestock, and agriculture chemicals are displaced and co-mingle, putting all emergency response personnel, farm workers and family members in danger. Floods can heighten the risk of health threats such as mold, tetanus bacteria, contaminated well water, heat illness and high stress. This presentation will highlight basic precautions to prevent possible diseases and injuries during and after flooding. | |
| Safe and Healthy Recovery After a Farm Flood | Disaster recovery can be as dangerous as the disaster itself, especially if no disaster preparedness plan was implemented. This is especially true on farms and ranches where inherent farm hazards such as machinery and equipment, livestock, and agriculture chemicals are displaced and co-mingle, putting all emergency response personnel, farm workers and family members in danger. Floods can heighten the risk of health threats such as mold, tetanus bacteria, contaminated well water, heat illness and high stress. This presentation will highlight basic precautions to prevent possible diseases and injuries during and after flooding. |
Page updated: August 2022