WINSTON-SALEM, NC – October 4, 2024 – Staying healthy during major floods is a challenge. About a week after Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina, I heard a timely interview on a Winston-Salem radio station. WFDD’s David Ford interviewed Dr. Christopher Ohl, a professor of internal medicine and infectious diseases at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. The doctor offered some great tips on how to stay healthy during major floods and recommended ways of being prepared for major catastrophic events.
We must have water. Here’s how water can keep us healthy:
• Hydration
• Personal hygiene, bathing, and brushing teeth
• Washing hands before eating and after going to the bathroom will reduce the risk of getting sick
• Food preparation
• Washing clothes and dishes
• Flushing toilets
Here’s what you can do to be ready for a major flood:
• Stockpile food and water
• Stay up to date with vaccination for respiratory illnesses
• Have an evacuation plan like staying out-of-town with friends or relatives
• Have strong mental health services available
The mental health impact after floods may be the biggest health problem in the long run because it may last longer than other health problems. Natural disasters, like floods, can cause someone to feel helpless, grief stricken, and anxious. Grief reactions can occur from personal loss. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with the trauma following a major catastrophe. Anxiety and panic attacks can occur as can depression and suicide.
Listen to the full report below:
Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, healthyasheville@ashevillefm.org