Officials warn of contaminates in flood water

Remnants of Tropical Storm Ida deposited nearly 10 inches of rain in some parts of Onslow County last week, and environmental officials and workers warn that contact with floodwater still can pose a health threat.

During last week’s deluge, Belkys Melendez, the duty forecaster for the National Weather Service bureau in Newport, said unofficial measurements indicated that on Nov. 13 Swansboro had 9.51 inches of rain, Sneads Ferry received 8.76 inches, Sandy Run, 5.7 inches, and New River, 5.53 inches. Flooding, Melendez said, occurred in Piney Green, Swansboro, Emerald Isle, Newport and Pelletier.

Rick Shiver, the water quality regional supervisor with the Division of Water Quality in Wilmington, said the storm deposited five or more inches of rain within a 24-hour period in some areas. This represents nearly a 10th of Jacksonville’s average yearly rainfall of approximately 54 inches.

Last week’s heavy rainfall caused overflows of Jacksonville’s wastewater system, causing sewer water to reach surface waters — and, in one case, deposit 500 gallons of wastewater in Mill Creek near Henderson Drive.

John Elardo, a duty forecaster for the National Weather Service, said Wednesday that the current showers were expected to bring one-half to three-quarters of an inch of rain by Thursday. And the New River and White Oak River remain swollen past their usual levels and have been closed to shellfishing.

Tess Sanders, the Riverkeeper for the White Oak and New rivers, said that exposure to floodwater can cause a number of gastrointestinal illnesses as well as infection to open sores.

“I saw a ton of kids playing in flooded streets and yards this week,” Sanders said in an e-mail. “I know they love it, but please do not allow children to play in floodwater.”

Sanders recommended that parents disinfect toys contaminated by floodwater using a solution of one cup of bleach in five gallons of water.

For home flooding, Sanders recommended that people wear rubber boots and waterproof gloves during cleanup and throw away contaminated items that can’t be disinfected, such as rugs, wall coverings and drywall. For drinking water from private wells that have been flooded, Sanders said to boil water for three to five minutes or, if that is not an option, add bleach to drinking water at a ratio of one-fourth of a teaspoon per gallon.

“We’re a coastal area and we do get tropical systems, and we do get flooding, and it’s just something that people need to be aware of,” Sanders said.

Contact Hope Hodge at 910-219-8453 or hhodge@freedomenc.com.