Issued in the public interest after the Chennai oods 2015.
How to clean up after the rain? Safety Checks before you enter your home Check for structural damage.
If you suspect your drinking water source has been contaminated with flood or sewage water, DO NOT use the water for anything.
Water and electricity are a dangerous combination.
Do the toilets and sewer pipes drain well? If not, do not use until a plumber has repaired the damage.
Turn off the electricity at the breaker if you are unsure of the wiring.
Hygiene
Safety
Always wash your hands and face with hot water, soap and disinfectant (like Dettol) before eating or drinkingto reduce the chance of disease. It takes at least 15 seconds to wash properly, so count to 15. Wet hands with water, apply enough soap to cover all hand surfaces. Rub hands palm to palm and also interlace your fingers to get soap in between. Rub the top of your hand. Rinse thoroughly and dry.
Safety Gear
Broken glass, exposed nails and other sharp objects may be in the water/ mud.
Watch for snakes and other animals.
Step carefully. Water and mud make a floor very slippery.
Floodwaters contain disease causing germs and can also leave a layer of sediment: a mix of soil, sewage, and toxic chemicals.
Tools to Clean
Dettol
Wear rubber gloves if available.
Wear the hard industrial boots. Or at the very least, wear knee-high gumboots.
Keep Dettol and bandages available. Wash any cut with clean water and Dettol immediately.
Tie a cloth around your nose and mouth.
Translations: GK Manickavel Graphics: Gnaneshwar
Brooms, buckets, bleach, Crowbar, hammer, saws, shovels, dustpans and pliers, screwdrivers. mops.
A wooden stick for scaring away snakes and small animals.
Trash bags and proper means to dispose of waste
Pg 1
Issued in the public interest after the Chennai oods 2015.
How to clean up after the rain? Safety Checks before you enter your home If building has not been open, open most windows and doors and leave for at least half an hour before beginning work. Open inside doors, cupboard doors and drawers to allow air flow through the building. DO NOT switch on the fans if the house is contaminated with sewage because the air movement may spread germs into other parts of the house.
Dry the House
1 Once you have removed all traces of mud and flood water and washed out the house, open all the windows and doors to allow the house to thoroughly dry out. Switch on fans to help the process.
Disinfection of contaminated surfaces.
3 Use a disinfectant to kill any remaining mold on hard surfaces that will remain in the home Mop floors with a mix of water and disinfectant. Use 1 cup disinfectant to 1 bucket water. Clean all surfaces, including wall tiles, kitchen counters, bath and kitchen fixtures with liquid chlorine bleach and water mixed with detergent. Use one cup of bleach to one bucket of water. After disinfection, wipe all the disinfected surfaces down with a clean dry cloth. Open doors and windows to allow faster drying. Translations: GK Manickavel Graphics: Gnaneshwar
Dry and Wet Cleaning
2 After the house is dry, you can clean all surfaces with a duster and broom. You can damp wipe all surfaces such as ceiling, walls, windows, doors etc with a mix of water and detergent. Starting at the ceiling, wipe with sponge mops and hand sponges until all visible dirt and stains are removed. Use the least amount of water possible to avoid soaking the building materials.
Cleaning Mold
4 Mold is going to be a big problem in a humid climate like Chennai after a flood. Cover your nose and mouth when cleaning mold. Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely in the sun. Absorbent materials, such as bedsheets, may have to be thrown away if they become moldy. Do not paint moldy surfaces. Clean up the mold and dry the surfaces before painting. Paint applied over moldy surfaces is likely to peel. Pg 2