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Even after the Florence crossing, hurricane risks will not be jeopardized: persistent floods can pose a potential risk to anyone exposed to them.
"The water will not be safe, both by chemical and biological contamination.After a disaster, we tend to see a lot of skin infections and rashes," said Jeff Schlegelmilch, Deputy Director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness in Columbia. University.
There may also be waterborne diseases, ranging from uncomfortable but relatively harmless gastrointestinal disorders, such as noroviruses, to more rare and more serious bacteria, such as vibrio, a potentially life-threatening microorganism. .
And while North Carolina is sensitive to all the usual threats that recur in the waters left by a major storm, the state is also vulnerable to a unique and uncomfortable set of additional problems.
As the leading producer of hogs, North Carolina is likely to be inundated with nasty pollutants from pig excrement flowing into Florence's waters.
"This waste will contain antibiotics, which pigs are fed in very large quantities to accelerate their growth, in addition to viruses and bacteria naturally present in pig excrement," said Rachel Noble, a professor at the Institute. . Marine Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Among other things, pig excrement may carry campylobacteria or salmonella. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, bacteria that, if ingested, can cause diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps.
This would not be the first time that pigs have contributed to the floods in North Carolina. In 1999, when Hurricane Floyd hit the area, the carcasses of thousands of pigs and other animals floated through toxic floodwaters, filled with excrement, pesticides and fertilizers. The stench of the mud was so overwhelming, rescuers had to put Vick's Vapo-Rub under their nostrils to try to damage their sense of smell as they crossed the water, according to the Associated Press.
The state also has more than two dozen coal pits operated by Duke Energy, North Carolina's largest electricity supplier. Ash, a byproduct of coal burned to produce electricity, contains mercury, arsenic and lead. Duke Energy spokesman Bill Norton told the PA earlier in the week that crews were monitoring the water levels in the coal pits during the storm in an attempt to prevent any overflow.
"I think it's safe to say that if there is floodwater, and you're back in the neighborhood, it's not clean."
There are ways for residents to avoid getting sick. Tap water is generally contaminated by sewage treatment systems and the flooding of septic systems, which destroys their ability to filter faecal pathogens of animal or human origin; before drinking water or using it to brush your teeth, make it boil first. (Local and national health authorities may have additional requirements depending on the contaminant.)
For floodwaters, it is important to leave no infiltration in open wounds, which can be difficult for people who escape the wrath of a hurricane.
"Have a skin protection if you are in the water," said Schlegelmilch. "Use gloves wherever you can.If you have cuts or cuts on your leg, make sure to keep these areas very clean and try to avoid as much exposure as possible."
People exposed to floods should be especially vigilant for any sign of vibrio, which is very rare, but can quickly put life at risk. The bacteria, which is more often associated with the consumption of raw or undercooked oysters, can cause diarrhea, fever and skin infections and can enter through an open cut or wound.
"If they have a very red and angry infection that makes them feel really, really bad, you have a situation where they have to seek medical help as quickly as possible," Noble said.
Do not assume that the water is drinkable
The CDC offers additional recommendations on how to stay safe in floodwaters after a disaster.
Donna Knutson, deputy director of the CDC's National Center for Environmental Health, warned that the bacteria responsible for diarrheal diseases, in the form of salmonella and E. coli. Coli, would probably be present in the waters after the storm. She warned people who depend on well water not to assume that their water is drinkable once they return home after Florence.
"Even if your wells do not seem to have been contaminated, talk to your local officials to test the water after the hurricane," she said.
What is most important for people returning to the flooded areas, according to experts, is not to assume that the water that remains of the storm can be consumed or crossed without protection, even if the days are past.
"I think it's safe to say that if there is permanent flooding and you're back in the neighborhood, it's not clean," Schlegelmilch said.
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