How to Return Home Safely After a Hurricane

Recent hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike have been wreaking havoc over Caribbean islands and the coastal United States this storm season. While casualties in the United States haven't been as high as they could have been thanks to a public that was ready to heed the warnings of emergency officials, the danger isn't over once the wind and rain have subsided. Government agencies warn that many health and environmental dangers still exist for those returning to their homes after a hurricane or flooding event.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn homeowners to be wary while inside structures that survived a storm and around remaining floodwater. Wear waterproof boots and gloves to keep water from touching your skin, and wash your hands often. The water can be full of hazardous substances and underwater dangers because every chemical in the area has probably found its way into the water. Also, get immediate medical attention for cuts or deep puncture wounds to prevent tetanus, and avoid breathing fumes or spray from standing water.

Don't enter a building if you smell gas, and don't light a match or turn on lights. If the power is out, don't use generators, grills, stoves or fuel-burning devices inside a building, even if you have the doors and windows open, because you could be poisoned by carbon monoxide gas. If you start to feel sick or dizzy, get outside right away. Don't touch fallen wires, and keep the power off if you're around standing water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also warns people to watch out for methane and other dangerous gases that may be released by decaying materials.

To clean mold, mix a cup of bleach in a gallon of water to wash items. Scrub surfaces with a brush and then rinse them. Never mix bleach and ammonia, and make sure you're in a well ventilated area. Get rid of items that can't be cleaned and dried. According to the EPA, anything that can't be dried within 48 hours should be thrown out, a category that includes almost all building materials.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, any food that has come into contact should be thrown out, even if it has been packed in a container that has gotten wet. Containers with screw-on lids, twist caps and flip tops cannot be disinfected and should be discarded, including home-canned foods. Only eat food that is in an all-metal can after removing the label and sanitizing the can with bleach water.

For drinking water, bottled water that hasn't been near flood water is the best. Otherwise, boil water for one minute to make it safe to drink, or disinfect it with eight drops of bleach in a gallon of water, stirring well and letting stand for 30 minutes.

Cleaning your home and making it safe to live in again can be quite a chore, but it's one that should not be undertaken lightly or haphazardly. The health of you and your family depends on it. There are many good resources and tips for clean-up if you're not sure what to do.

1. "Clean up safely after a disaster," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

2. "Hurricanes," U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

3. "Food safety for consumers returning home after a hurricane and/or flooding," U.S. Food and Drug Administration.