Clean up tips and suggested recovery kit to help you remain as safe and healthy as possible

Today my focus is upon providing the following suggestions as Middle TN residents return to their homes and businesses and remove debris and damaged belongings. The following recommendations are adapted from a document prepared for residents returning to their homes following Hurricane Katrina.  The original document was prepared by Dr. Miriam Aschkenasy, MD, MPH of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative and Public Health Specialist with Oxfam America.  Patmos was working as part of the disaster response team working on community recovery.

The following list is being offered by Patmos, LLC as a courtesy to Middle TN residents who are returning to their flood damaged homes and businesses and removing debris.  The following information is intended as helpful suggestions and is not intended to replace recommendations from TN State and Metro Nashville Health Departments.  Patmos performs disaster recovery planning and management (www.patmosconsulting.com/615-394-4159). 

1. As a precaution, if you are not current with your vaccinations, it is advised to be up-to-date on your tetanus if you plan to be directly involved in clean-up efforts.
2.  Standing water and soil may be contaminated. If you come in contact with standing water and material or supplies affected by the floodwater, you should wash with soap and clean water as soon as possible.
3. Always wash your hands and body with soap and warm, clean drinkable water or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer.
4. Pay special attention to not putting your hands in your mouth or on objects that could go in your mouth such as cigarettes or water bottles.
5. To reduce the risk of mold and bacteria, remove wet materials (e.g., wood, paper, clothing) and discard those that cannot be thoroughly cleaned or dried.
6. In the coming days as mold becomes more of an issue, it is suggested that you limit your exposure to mold and use the protective supplies provided in this kit when handling mold covered items when entering your house.
7. Use caution when using a generator, make sure to follow manufacture instructions and avoid Carbon Monoxide poisoning.
8. Please be careful when removing debris and try to minimize the risk of injury. Steel-toed boots, work gloves and goggles/safety glasses are essential.
9. Illness can result from contact with an open cut or wound. If you get a cut or abrasion make sure to clean it with soap and drinkable water and apply antibiotic ointment. If the cut or abrasion begins to get red, painful, swollen, is oozing or has a foul smell SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. Do not delay.
10. If you begin to have problems breathing, develop a rash, have nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, or see that you have skin infection LEAVE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY AND SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION.
11. Make sure to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.  We recommend the use of sun block and bug repellent as standing water is a danger for disease from mosquito bites.
12. Have a safety plan in place in case you get sick or injured. Make sure someone knows where you are and can check on you to ensure you are safe.  Make sure you have a way to contact someone if you need help.
13. If you smell gas or your home makes creaking sounds or appears to be unstable on its foundation LEAVE IMMEDIATELY and alert local emergency services of gas leak.

 Suggested Flood Clean up and Recovery Kit

Kit Includes:

1. Pairs of Industrial Gloves                                          
2. Protective Masks (ideally N 95)                                            
3. 1 bottle of Alcohol-based hand sanitizer
4. Insect repellent and sunscreen                                               
5. Wound care supplies                                                              
6. Soap                                                                           
7. Bleach                                                                        
8. Trash bags                                                      
9. Goggles used for eye protection                                            
10. Shoe covers (as mold worsens)                                                          
11. Bag for disposal of materials used in clean up process
12. 1 Tyvek Suit and duct tape  (to be used if you are removing known contaminants and/or there is presence of black mold)