Flood Waters or Standing Waters

Don’t drive in flooded areas — turn around, don’t drown!

Floodwater can pose a drowning risk for everyone— regardless of their ability to swim. Swiftly moving shallow water can be deadly, and even shallow standing water can be dangerous for small children.

Always follow warnings about flooded roads.

Don’t drive in flooded areas—cars or other vehicles won’t protect you from floodwaters. They can be swept away or may stall in moving water.

Stay out of floodwater.

Floodwaters contain many things that may harm health. We don’t know exactly what is in floodwater at any given point in time. Floodwater can contain:

• Downed power lines

• Human and livestock waste

• Household, medical, and industrial hazardous waste (chemical, biological, and radiological)

• Other contaminants that can lead to illness

• Physical objects such as lumber, vehicles, and debris

• Wild or stray animals such as rodents and snakes

Exposure to contaminated floodwater can cause:

• Wound infections

• Skin rash

• Gastrointestinal illness

• Tetanus

It is important to protect yourself from exposure to floodwater regardless of the source of contamination. The best way to protect yourself is to stay out of the water.

Content source: ? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health