Flood Water is Not a Playground

6/1/2020 (Permalink)

Flood Water Can Be Dangerous

When more than a couple inches of rain falls, sometimes the sewers cannot keep up. The result is large areas of water building up in streets and yards. During these times, you will see people walking/wading through this deep water. There are many dangerous reasons why you should not walk through the water.

One reason why flood water is dangerous is because it is a mixture of sewage water and chemicals. The water picks up everything and anything along the way. This can include human or animal fecal matter, gasoline, oil, and other substances that can cause serious illness, rashes, or chemical burns on your skin.

Another reason that flood water can be dangerous is the contents in the water. The water can easily pick up small items like rusty nails, broken glass, or sharp branches. Since the water is typically dark and dirty looking, you cannot see what is lurking under the surface. By walking through the water, you are more likely to have a sharp object cut you which will allow the dirty water to enter the wound which can result in serious illness or infection.

Another danger that occurs are downed power lines. These lines have live wires just sitting in the water surging electricity through it. The water is a perfect conduit of the electricity without out any signs of danger. Once a person touches the water, then the electricity will pass to you. In a flood situation, please stay away from large areas of water. Allow professional first responders to take care of the situation. There is no reason to risk your well-being!

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