Last updated on November 27th, 2024 at 09:11 am

Flood Resources

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

What You Can Do to Protect Your Respiratory Health During Disaster Cleanup – CDC Resource

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.

How to Disinfect Wells After an Emergency – CDC Resource

Flood Resources

Documents

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14 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. English Title: Farm Flood Health Threats – Warm Weather	View
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. English Title: Farm Flood Health Threats – Cold Weather	View
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. English Title: Interim Guidance for Protecting Workers from Livestock and Poultry Wastewater and Sludge During and After Floods	View
9394	Entering And Cleaning Up Flooded Homes	Protect yourself and your family during cleanup.	View
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.	View
9542	Farm Flood Health Threats – Cold Weather	A guide to help farmers protect themselves during winter floods. Spanish Title: Amenazas para la salud por inundaciones en la granja: Factores de riesgo durante la recuperación en invierno	View
9540	Farm Flood Health Threats – Warm Weather	A guide to help farmers protect themselves from warm weather farm flood health threats. Spanish Title: Amenaza para la salud en la granja por inundaciones	View
9393	Flood Recovery Checklists for Farmsteads	This publication is for farmers and ranchers affected by flooding.	View
12766	Flood Resources Toolkit	Social media graphics for flood risks. Spanish Title: Material necesario en caso de inundación	View
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. Spanish Title: 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	View
12768	Material necesario en caso de inundación	Spanish language social media graphics for flood risks. English Title: Flood Resources Toolkit	View
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.	View
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.	View
9532	What to Do After the Flood	Precautions to take after a flood, regarding well and pump inspections.	View

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14 documents

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.	Watch
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.	Watch

Page updated: November 2024

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