Diaster Management - Environmental Problems, Resources for You in Your Home and Community

Man-made and Nature's Disasters - and What to Do
Floods, Earthquakes, and Tornados

Overview

During cleanup from a weather-related disaster, many problems may overwhelm you. Failure to remove contaminated materials and to reduce moisture and humidity can present serious long-term health risks. Downed electric wires. Standing water and wet materials are a breeding ground for microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, and mold. They can cause disease, trigger allergic reactions, and continue to damage materials long after a flood.

These pages discuss typical environmental and health issues that arise during disaster cleanup and the steps you can take to lessen these effects. Although the information contained here emphasizes residential cleanup, it is also applicable to other types of buildings.

• Chemical spills, train derailments, gas clouds, etc.
• Floods:
  • What to do
  • Cleanup the indoor air
• Earthquakes
  • Historic quakes
  • Risk map
• Tornados
  • safe rooms
• Disaster scales: Richter, etc.

• Disaster Assistance (FSIS)
• Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water (EPA)
• Resources for Food Safety and Storage in Emergency Situations (National Agricultural Library)
• What Can I Do If There Is A Problem With My Drinking Water? (EPA)
• Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) (Cooperative Extension Service, Illinois)
• Preparing for a Disaster (Emergency Management, Collier County, Florida)
• Power Failure: How to Protect Foods (Department of Public Health, Seattle-King County, Washington)
• What Consumers Can Do to Prevent Foodborne Illness (Department of Health, South Dakota)
• Disaster Handbook (Cooperative Extension Service, Florida)

Back to top