SIX years ago, Eye wrote the following paragraph in an article that described the filth that flood waters bring into our homes.
“Within the depths of flood waters there are little slimy unseen things and floaters that cling to your ankles and calves as you wade through a body of liquid scented of lepeh (cockroaches) and the colour of kopi-susu. Within the depths of flood waters (especially in towns and cities), out come critters that most of us have probably never encountered in our lives. Oh how Eye hate things that go bump in the depths of flood waters!”
The description came about from the Eye’s personal experience of living in a flood prone area over the years.
The hardest part of a flood is the clean-up. No matter how prepared you are prepare, having lived in a flood prone area and experienced many floods, there is still no getting used to the stench that the disturbingly dirty water leaves behind.
The stench that reeks of sewage or as it is known here ‘bau lantoh’, and what a friend terms as “cockroach smell”. The stubborn flood stench lingers for a few weeks, no matter how much cleaning solution, bleach and disinfectant you use.
The worst thing about a flood for most people would be trying to save the refrigerator. Most of us living in flood prone areas have resorted to placing our refrigerators on specially-made mounts, just to minimise the risk of flood waters getting to them.
Those of us experienced with flooding in our homes offer three basic tips or safety measures that every homeowner can follow after the waters have receded.
First things first, be extremely careful with electricity. Yes, be careful when attempting to turn on anything that runs on electricity, even if the flood waters did not reach electrical sockets or power points.
Common sense would also tell you not to plug in any appliance that you saved into power points that were submerged in water. If possible, call in a qualified electrician to run a thorough check before deciding to turn on any switch in the house.
Second tip – throw and discard. Yes, it may seem like a waste to throw and discard, but this is especially relevant to food and drinking water that have come into contact with flood waters.
Remember the second paragraph at the start of this article? Well, flood waters are heavily contaminated with sewage and other waste. Town and city waste are the worst!
Even when the water has receded, and even if you seem to think that washing water bottles, fresh food and packaged food items will do the trick, these can still harbour germs that cause sickness and infection.
Still think flood waters aren’t that bad? Just picture what the flood waters contain — faeces from pets and strays in the neighbourhood; spit from the old man, which he nicely deposited on the pavement or into the drain nearby; overflow from your own septic tank; grease, oil and everything else discarded down the drains from the nearby shops and kopitiams; and much more rubbish associated with city or town living.
You definitely do not want to keep food items that have been in contact with these right?
Since we’re on the subject of food, it is also time to clean and disinfect that refrigerator if the flood waters got to it. Eye have heard flood victims saying that the refrigerator door was shut tight and the water did not enter it, so it is okay.
Wrong. It is not okay. Bacteria — those microscopic beings — have a way of finding their way especially into food and produce. So, if the refrigerator still works, discard all meats, fresh fruits, vegetables, bottled drinks and cooked food in containers that were in there.
Clean the refrigerator inside out, and every crevice, before putting in fresh and new food items.
If the refrigerator doesn’t work? Toss out the contents, get it repaired and then clean it out thoroughly. Otherwise, it is time to shop for a new unit and seriously think about putting it on an elevated level where future floods are unlikely to reach it.
What about canned food you ask? Undamaged canned food can be salvaged. Wash the undamaged cans thoroughly before attempting to eat the contents. Best boil or recook the contents before consuming them.
Food in boxed and plastic packaging and even jars must also be discarded.
It may seem like a waste having to throw out seemingly good food, but better to be safe than sorry.
Thirdly, it is important to care for your own hygiene.
Many people get so engrossed in cleaning up that they forget the most important thing – their own hygiene. It is important to maintain good hygiene during the clean-up.
Minimise direct contact with the flood water and the dirty, slimy stuff it leaves behind. Use gloves. Continuously rinse dirt and flood water off yourself throughout the clean-up with clean tap water.
Wash yourself thoroughly before having a meal or eating during a clean-up and don’t ever put your hands to your mouth or eyes without washing them properly first.
Constantly remind yourself what flood waters contain and for goodness sake, as fun as it seems, do not let your children have a free swimming session in the flood waters!
For aid workers who have to go for hours being waist deep in flood waters, it is important to check yourself for rashes or out of the ordinary markings on your skin. Get immediate medical attention. If you cut yourself during a clean-up or during contact with flood waters, have the wound treated immediately and keep it dry.
So there you have it, three simple things to remember after the flood – don’t get zapped by electrical damage, don’t be a miser trying to save contaminated food and subject yourself to food poisoning, and also disinfect and constantly practise good hygiene even when in the midst of a clean-up.
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