Monday 24 July 2017Media release2 minutes to read
Below are some tips from Medical Officer of Health Dr Alistair Humphrey to help as you embark on the clean-up, if your home or property was affected by the floods over the past few days.
- Contact your insurance company and take photos.
- Treat all water as contaminated – so wash your hands thoroughly after you've been in contact with floodwaters and mud/silt from inside your house.
- Do not move back into a damp house, particularly if you have young children/babies.
- If you had a power cut food in your freezer will stay safely frozen for up to 24 hours as long as the freezer door is kept closed. After 24 hours the food should be discarded.
- Please limit the amount of waste water your household is generating ie – from flushing the toilet, using the washing machine – as waste-water systems are struggling to cope with the deluge. Even though the rain has stopped in most areas the run-off from hill areas is adding to the floodwaters.
- If you're finding it hard to cope at the moment ask friends and family for help, call your usual general practice team – even if it's after-hours and they're closed – a nurse is available 24/7 and can provide free health advice.
- Please check on your neighbours – particularly if they live alone, are elderly or vulnerable.
- Check your local council's website to see if there is a ‘boil water' notice in place.
Ashburton
www.ashburtondc.govt.nz/our-council/news/articles/Pages/Heavy-rainfall-causing-surface-flooding-and-road-closures.aspx.
Selwyn
Many areas have a ‘boil water' notice in place, so please check for the latest info.
www.selwyn.govt.nz/home-assets/whats-hot/weater-update
Christchurch
www.ccc.govt.nz/news-and-events/newsline/show/1868
Waimakariri
www.waimakariri.govt.nz/your-council/media-and-news/2017/07/flooding-updates-saturday.
Kaikoura
www.kaikoura.govt.nz/.
ENDS
Tags DisasterFlood
Back to Health News