GEORGIA:
Food Safety
Many residents lost power during the storm and may be unsure if refrigerated food is still safe. They can follow this simple rule: When in doubt, throw it out.
Once power is off, the refrigerator keeps food at safely cold temperatures for 4 hours, while food in a freezer remains safe for approximately 8 hours. If your power is off longer, your food is not safe to eat and should be discarded.
Do not consume anything that floodwater may have touched. Floodwater can carry disease-causing organisms.
For more information on food safety after a storm, please visit Food and Water Safety During Power Outages and Floods | FDA and Keep Food Safe After a Disaster or Emergency | CDC.
Avoid Floodwater
- Always follow warnings about flooded roads.
- Don’t drive through floodwater – it may be deeper than you think.
- Keep in mind that floodwater often carries germs. If you touch it, be sure to wash your hands with soap and water. If you don’t have soap or water, use alcohol-based wipes or sanitizer.
- Do not allow children to play in any free-flowing, run-off, or floodwater. This water can be contaminated with bacteria or chemicals. Floodwater often carries organisms that can cause infections if they get into cuts or scrapes.
Protect Yourself from Pests
- Standing water can bring mosquitoes that carry disease. To avoid mosquito bites when outdoors, use insect repellent with DEET or Picaridin, IR3535, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. Follow label directions.
- Wear long sleeves, pants, and socks when you’re outside.
- Tip ‘n Toss containers that hold water to eliminate breeding locations for mosquitoes and prevent the spread of illness. Tip out standing water in flowerpots, planters, children’s toys, wading pools, and buckets.
Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- Never use a generator inside your home or garage, even if doors and windows are open.
- Only use generators outside, more than 20 feet away from your home, doors, and windows.
- Install battery-operated or battery backup carbon monoxide detectors near every sleeping area in your home.
After residents have ensured their own household’s health and safety, we encourage everyone to check on their neighbors, especially those who may be elderly or have special needs.
For more information to help protect yourself and your loved ones following a storm, please visit Safety Guidelines: After a Hurricane or Other Tropical Storm | CDC.
SOUTH CAROLINA:
Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority (BJWSA) is cautioning area residents to stay away from flood waters that may contain unseen risks. Even though the heaviest rainfall from Tropical Storm Debby has likely passed, floodwaters still pose risks especially in low lying areas. You should not enter, contact or consume any floodwater.
BJWSA crews conducting storm damage assessments have reported sanitary sewer infrastructure (pump stations and other manholes) have been flooded in much of our service area. Reported infrastructure impacted most are in Bluffton, Hardeeville, and Burton and are located at or adjacent to these addresses:
- Pump Station at 84 Buckwalter Pkwy, Bluffton, SC 29910
- Manhole at 853 Rocking Horse Ln, Bluffton, SC 29910
- Manhole at 613 Coopers Ln S, Bluffton, SC 29910
- Manhole at 3 Wood Eden Ct, Bluffton, SC 29910
- Manhole at 100 Blacksmith Circle, Beaufort, SC, 29906
- Manhole at 122 Stiney Funeral Home Rd, Hardeeville, SC 29927
When flooding of this magnitude occurs, all stormwater should be treated as if it has come into contact with sanitary sewage and should be considered contaminated. Once stormwater recedes and crews can safely gain access, they will continue evaluations and begin any necessary repairs. The Authority believes this contamination began late in the evening on Monday, Aug. 5 and will be resolved later this week after flooding recedes.
BJWSA has notified the S.C. Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) and is working in conjunction with SCDES to address any effects caused by the contamination.
BJWSA has well-trained and experienced field operations crews to monitor its wastewater collection system, which collects and treats a daily average of 11 million gallons of wastewater at eight wastewater treatment facilities before returning the treated water to the environment.
If you see or suspect any type of spill from the sewer collection system, please contact BJWSA at 843-987-9200.
For more information or updates on this situation, please visit www.bjwsa.org.