East Coast Facilities Brace as Tropical Storm Makes Landfall

As Tropical Storm Isaias made landfall in North Carolina late Monday as a Category 1 hurricane and traveled up the East Coast yesterday, communities experienced flooding, electrical outages, and intense rain, ABC-TV reported. At least five people died—two in North Carolina, one in Connecticut, one in Maryland, and one in New York— as the storm made its way north, bringing strong winds, flash flooding, and tornadoes.

Flood water resulting from hurricanes is hazardous, not only because of the drowning risk but also the risk of picking up illnesses from the contaminated water. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the following tips for floodwater safety in its hurricane preparedness publication:

• Turn off all facility utilities at the main power switch and close the main gas valve if evacuation appears necessary.
• Gather emergency supplies, including prescription medications, flashlights, and battery-operated radios.
• Get to higher ground without driving through standing water. As little as six inches of water can cause you to lose control of your vehicle, and two feet of water can cause your car to be swept away.

On its hurricane preparedness and response page, the U.S. Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) offers the following tips on preparing workers for
natural disasters:

• Ensure that all workers know what to do in case of an emergency.
• Practice evacuation plans on a regular basis.
• Update plans and procedures based on lessons learned from exercises. 

More storms are sure to hit the U.S. as hurricane season continues. If your facility is struck by a hurricane, make sure you are following efficient and safe protocols during clean-up.