Precautions After Hurricane Matthew

Home

Published: Sunday, October 9th, 2016 @ 5:16 pm
By: Russell Allen ( More Entries )

Login to Send a Private Message to Russell Allen

    Publisher's note: Stay connected to BCN for all of our many Hurricane Mathew updates.

Press Release:

    Beaufort County Public Health Department is advising the public on important precautions after hurricane Matthew:

    Food Safety

Minimize the number of times you open the freezer and refrigerator doors.
Food kept in a closed refrigerator will keep for approximately four hours from the time the power went off or if food is warmer than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. After that, throw it away.
Food kept in a closed freezer will last for approximately 48 hours. After 48 hours, food should be cooked thoroughly or thrown away. Do not refreeze thawed foods.
Any food (including food and drinks in cans, plastic or glass containers) that has come into contact with floodwaters should be thrown away.
When in doubt, throw it out!

Private Drinking Water Wells That Have Been Flooded:

Flooding can introduce impurities into private drinking water wells. Property owners whose homes, rental units and businesses obtain water from a private well should be aware of potential health hazards should their well become submerged.
Use only bottled water for drinking and cooking, if available if your well has been flooded.
Plan to purchase enough bottle water to provide one gallon per person per day.
Tap water used for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth or making ice must be boiled for at least 5 minutes before use.
Pregnant women and children should use bottled water instead of tap water or boiled water. Baby formula should be made with bottled water. Boiled water is not good for babies and pregnant women. However, if bottled water is not available, do not use untreated water-use boiled water until bottled water becomes available.
If you suspect your well has become contaminated, please contact Beaufort County Health Department at 946-6048.

Septic Tanks

Human exposure to wastewater can lead to disease transmission. Do not let children play in flood water as these waters may be affected by sewage also.
If your septic tank has been flooded, do not use the plumbing system while the septic tank is still under water.
Do not use your plumbing system is sewage water has backed up into your home.
For information on repairing or constructing a septic tank system, contact our office at 946-6048.
After the storm, septic systems may be damaged during debris removal. Vehicles can crush drainfields, tanks and distribution boxes, especially when the soil is saturated. Pulling tree stumps with heavy equipment can also destroy drainfields.

Clean Up

Assume that everything touched by floodwater has been contaminated and will have to be disinfected or thrown away.
Wash your hands frequently and always wear protective gear (waterproof gloves and boots, long sleeves and pants, eye protection and a disposable filtering face mask, if possible).
Walls, hard-surface floors and counters can be cleaned with soap and water first, then with a solution of 1 cup bleach mixed into 4 gallons of water. Go over the area twice with the bleach solution. Pay particular care to areas where children will be playing.
Use a two-bucket method of cleaning-put the cleaning solution in one bucket and the rinse water in another. Change rinse water frequently.
If the pilot light on your natural gas furnace or hot water heater has gone out, have it re-lit by a professional.

Contact: Lisa Respess Williams
lisa.williams@co.beaufort.nc.us

Go Back

Login to Leave a Comment

You May Not be Able to Believe Everything I Say But You Can’t Believe Anything They Say So You Might As Well Believe What I Say

North Carolina Health, Body & Soul, Health and Fitness

While it was Raining

Latest Health and Fitness

Spin Cycle: The Knives Are Out For RFK Jr.

"Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a foolish man, full of foolish and vapid ideas," former Governor Chris Christie complained.

Published: Monday, September 15th, 2025 @ 10:18 pm By: Daily Wire

RFK Jr. Appoints Deputy Jim O’Neill As Interim CDC Director After Monarez Ouster

O'Neill served as a health policy adviser with ties to several healthcare companies.

Published: Sunday, September 7th, 2025 @ 9:52 pm By: Daily Wire

ECU Health Behavioral Health Hospital hosts ribbon-cutting ceremony

New state-of-the-art facility features 144 beds and a healing environment for behavioral health patients

Published: Tuesday, August 26th, 2025 @ 7:53 pm By: Eastern NC NOW Staff

Reviving The Presidential Fitness Test Will Help Shape Better Citizens

Equity has replaced excellence, and Americans are worse off physically and intellectually.

Published: Monday, August 25th, 2025 @ 9:06 am By: Daily Wire

RFK Jr. To Oust Key Health Panel Over ‘Woke’ Nonsense

The panel referred to pregnant women as "pregnant persons."

Published: Sunday, August 10th, 2025 @ 6:51 pm By: Daily Wire

MOTHeRS Project honored by American Psychiatric Association for innovation in maternal mental health care

Award highlights ECU Health’s telehealth approach in addressing rural disparities

Published: Saturday, July 12th, 2025 @ 7:25 pm By: Eastern NC NOW Staff

RFK Jr. Nixes U.S. Funding For Vaccine Alliance Until It ‘Re-Earns The Public’s Trust’

"When vaccine safety issues have come before Gavi, Gavi has treated them not as a patient health problem, but as a public relations problem."

Published: Saturday, June 28th, 2025 @ 7:59 am By: Daily Wire

CDC Stops Pushing COVID Shots For Healthy Pregnant Women, Children: ‘Common Sense’

“There's no evidence healthy kids need it today, and most countries have stopped recommending it for children.”

Published: Monday, June 2nd, 2025 @ 11:37 am By: Daily Wire

White House Answers Questions On Trump Actions Protecting Children From Trans Procedures

Trump has signed a slew of executive orders on the issue over the last several days.

Published: Tuesday, February 11th, 2025 @ 5:37 pm By: Daily Wire

CIA Assesses Chinese Lab Leak Responsible For Coronavirus Pandemic

The assessment comes after CIA Director John Ratcliffe was confirmed this week.

Published: Monday, February 3rd, 2025 @ 3:12 pm By: Daily Wire

Woke Medical Association Scrubs DEI Info From Website After Brutal Report

The AAMC removed and restricted info on its website after a Do No Harm report exposed its commitment to DEI

Published: Friday, December 27th, 2024 @ 1:37 pm By: Daily Wire

Helping Improve the Lives of People with Developmental Disabilities

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has proclaimed March Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

Published: Sunday, December 22nd, 2024 @ 12:02 pm By: Eastern NC NOW Staff

Two Applicants Compete for a Fixed MRI Scanner in Carteret County

Two applicants have filed certificate of need applications with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to develop a fixed MRI scanner in response to a need determination in the 2024 State Medical Facilities Plan.

Published: Wednesday, August 14th, 2024 @ 11:09 am By: Eastern NC NOW Staff

New SUN Bucks Food Program to Feed Children Over the Summer

NCDHHS Urges Families to Keep Information Up to Date

Published: Wednesday, August 7th, 2024 @ 8:12 am By: Eastern NC NOW Staff

NCDHHS Releases Statement from State Health Director, Dr. Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, on Increasing Access to Treatment for Syphilis

As part of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ ongoing effort to respond to the rise in syphilis and congenital syphilis cases and increase access to treatment, NC Medicaid will now cover an additional treatment for syphilis and congenital syphilis, Extencilline.

Published: Tuesday, August 6th, 2024 @ 11:22 pm By: Eastern NC NOW Staff

Our Members

ENCN Sign Up

BCN Home

Beaufort Observer

Portfolios

Current Events: A Historical Perspective

Current Weather

Latest Comments

Latest Polls

Featured Entries

Latest Entries

Precautions After Hurricane Matthew | Eastern North Carolina Now