How Superstorm Sandy's Floods Can Make You Sick

Standing water may put New York residents in danger of infections.

What exactly is in that floodwater?  Standing water filled streets in New Jersey, New York, and other areas along the coastline.  This stagnant water can create “significant health risks, many of which can worsen with time” according to public health officials.

New York’s Office of Emergency Management cited that flood debris can include broken items such as bottles, animals that carry disease and untreated sewage into waterways.  Other contaminants from urban areas include “motor oil, gasoline, and trash.”  Walking through the water is also dangerous because contaminated water may enter cuts.  Residents were advised to avoid moving water because even levels of just six inches could sweep people off their feet.  Other concerns cited were portions of water which may have been electrified by downed power lines; therefore, Mayor Bloomberg said to avoid contact with floodwater.

Raw sewage from the Hudson River is putting New Yorkers at risk.  It has been recommended that residents boil tap water. This untreated sewage can “introduce bacteria, viruses, and parasites capable of causing a variety of ailments” according to Joan Rose, the Homer Nowlin Chair in Water Research at the University of Michigan. 

Cooler temperatures will also allow pathogens to survive for months.  After Hurricane Katrina, vibrio bacterial infections were a problem because they entered the body through open cuts because of parasites in the water.  “The most concerning urban bacteria is Escherichia coli- also known as E. coli- the organism that most mammals use for digestion.  Floods can spread this bacteria; however, E. coli occurs by drinking contaminated water or consuming food with the bacteria.”  The Union of Concerned Scientists published a report “outlining the risks of urban flooding, highlighting that the occurrence of floods may increase due to global warming.”

Timely cleanup can reduce such health risks related to floodwater.  Sunlight also helps as it “can help neutralize dirty water with ultraviolet light.”  Unfortunately, direct light tends to be blocked by New York’s skyscrapers.

Granted- we don't live in New York City; yet, we live in areas of the midwest that have suffered flooding.  Just last year, my brother-in-law and sister-in-law had to evacuate their home located at the Dakota Dunes for almost five months due to the Missouri River's flooding.  Flooding can happen to  any of us and knowing how to keep our family safe is of the utmost importance.

Stone, D., Shyr, L. (2012, October 30). How Superstorm Sandy’s Floods Can Make You Sick: Standing water may put New York residents in danger of infections. Retrieved: November 3, 2012 from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/10/111030-hurricane-sandy-superstorm-floods-health-science/