howard gamble
WHEELING — After flooding in Ohio County left many basements wet and muddy, Ohio County Health Officer Howard Gamble explains how to prepare for floods and what happens after they become contaminated by flooding. Outlined how to start cleaning the rooms that have been cleaned.
Mr. Gamble emphasized that the proper safety precautions should be taken first before beginning the cleaning. He recommends wearing gloves, sturdy shoes, and clothing that can be thrown away after cleaning.
Another important safety measure to take is to make sure your tetanus vaccination is up to date. Gamble described tetanus as the “biggest problem” the Wheeling County, Ohio, health department encounters after a flood.
To help protect against tetanus in the aftermath of the flood, the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department is offering free tetanus shots. These will run Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Must be a West Virginia resident and no reservation is required. For more information, call 304-234-3682.
Gamble noted that as of 1 p.m. Friday, he had already administered 20 tetanus shots since opening. If you get a cut or hole while cleaning, Gamble recommends going to the emergency room or urgent care.
Once you are sure it is safe to begin cleaning, the first step in the cleaning process is to remove all water from the flooded room.
Most flood-affected homes have water sitting in their basements, so Gamble advised people to pump water out of their basements once river levels drop below flood stage. Residents in wheelchairs can call 304-231-3711 to have water pumped from their basement.
Gamble emphasized making sure to turn off the power to the room you're cleaning after pumping water from the room.
“Most people know that they shouldn't touch flood water while cleaning, but touching unturned electricity when you start cleaning is also very dangerous,” Gamble pointed out.
Most cleaning will be directed to the walls and floors of the flooded room. Gamble advised first using a squeegee or broom to remove mud from flooded rooms.
“There was a little less silt and mud in this flood, so there will be a little less mud in the basement, but there will still be a lot of mud,” Gamble noted.
Gamble outlined that he would need someone to open the basement walls to check for contamination and help remove what was damaged inside the walls.
Gamble recommends removing drywall or wallboard that has been contaminated by water. Because if these materials remain on the walls, mold will begin to form.
On the other hand, walls made of plaster or paneling can often be saved and cleaned. Mr Gamble said these types of walls should be dried using a dehumidifier before being cleaned.
Gamble says the best product to clean walls, floors and other hard surfaces after a flood is a bleach solution containing 1 tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water.
“Some people think, 'If only I had more bleach, I could clean it faster,'” Gamble said. “The problem you will run into is that high concentrations of bleach can cause breathing problems in confined spaces.”
Gamble stressed that not everything can be properly decontaminated from floodwaters, so some items may have to be thrown away during the cleanup process.
Porous items, furniture and other items that cannot be “fully removed” from contaminated flood water should be discarded, Gamble said. Items that can be dried, opened, and washed can be stored.
If there are water-contaminated items in a flooded room, the phrase “when in doubt, throw them away” should be used to decide what to keep and what to dispose of, Gamble said. I pointed it out. This phrase also applies to any food that may have been affected by flooding.
“It's easier to just throw away the food, and you can avoid a lot of problems in the future wondering if the item is contaminated,” Gamble explained. “Especially if you have a freezer or refrigerator in your basement or another room that you use as backup food storage, you should throw away anything that's in there. We cannot guarantee that it will be done.”
Gamble added that if there is a power outage due to flooding, items that were not properly refrigerated or frozen during that time also need to be disposed of.
When removing debris or cleaning up items in your yard, you should follow the same steps as when cleaning indoors. Gamble is stressed about wearing heavy-duty gloves, a face mask, goggles, and boots when cleaning outdoors.
“You'll need heavy-duty work gloves because you'll be grabbing any flood debris or items in your yard or the remains of your home,” Gamble said. “You need to keep your hands protected to reduce the possibility of cuts and cuts.”
