• Air Quality Safety Do’s and Don’ts During Hurricane Flood Cleanup

    You can breathe easier by taking these 10 preventive steps to help protect your indoor air supply during hurricane season.
    Air Quality Safety Do’s and Don’ts During Hurricane Cleanup
    Air Quality Safety Do’s and Don’ts During Hurricane Cleanup
    Air Quality Safety Do’s and Don’ts During Hurricane Cleanup

    If your home has been damaged by a flood or hurricane, you’ll have to clean up once the storm passes. Before you survey the damage and get to work, follow these air quality tips.

    During a hurricane, the biggest threat to safety and property is storm surge, or an abnormal rise of water that can cause extreme flooding in coastal areas and tides reaching up to 20 feet or higher. Once the storm passes, however, the danger doesn’t completely disappear, as post-hurricane flood waters may be filled with hazardous waste, contaminants and pollutants.¹ Before you start cleaning up, follow these air quality do’s and don’ts to help protect yourself.

    DO

    • Wear the right protective gear — such as N95 respirators, goggles without vent holes and gloves — when handling building debris. If you know your home contains asbestos or lead, call in a professional removal team as these toxins may have been disturbed during the storm, sending harmful particles into the air.²,³

      Clean up and dry out your home as soon as possible, ideally no more than 24 to 48 hours after the storm ends, to prevent mold buildup.³ Use fans, dehumidifiers, — anything that can get air circulating or help filter out unwanted airborne particles.

      Natural disasters can lead to water contamination. Ensure your water is safe before using it to clean. If it’s not safe or you’re unsure, use bottled, boiled or treated water.⁵ Combine hot water with laundry detergent or dish soap to wipe down all wet items and surfaces — flooring, concrete, countertops, appliances and sinks — to keep mold at bay. If you suspect molding has already occurred, clean it up with a mixture of 1 cup of bleach for every gallon of water. Don’t combine bleach with ammonia, as this can create toxic vapors.⁴

      For flood and hurricane cleanup, use fans, dehumidifiers, room air purifiers, laundry detergent and hot water.

    For flood and hurricane cleanup, use fans, dehumidifiers, room air purifiers, laundry detergent and hot water.

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