NEW HANOVER COUNTY, N.C. -- Along the coast, affects of Florence have devastated the lives of many. As communities begin recovery work, standing flood waters remain in some areas.

  • Wear protective gear, like clothes and gloves, while cleaning up
  • When cleaning out mold, use soap and water or bleach on hard, non-porous surfaces
  • Throw away porous items like mattresses and clothes

"I'd like to also caution people from wading through water," said Dr. De B. Winter III, New Hanover Regional Medical Center Emergency Department Director. "People may not know what is underneath the water and can very commonly become injured."

New Hanover County assistant health director David Howard had similar sentiments.

"The flood waters themselves pose a danger because of the unknown mix of contaminants that may be in the water," said Howard.

Even in places where water once was, like in flooded rooms of homes, the soaked walls are turning into moldy ones. These situations are causing residents to have to clean up to a degree they never had to before.

"You can bleach them," said Howard. "Which is what you would normally use, a bleach and water mixture to clean surfaces."

While bleach and water would clean hard surfaces, like the walls and floor, it's important to know how to safely save or toss your soiled items to preserve your health.

"Absorbent things are much more difficult to -- just be sure that you got rid of everything," said Howard. "You can certainly treat something as much as you want but we advice, if there's any doubt, to get rid of the item and replace it as soon as possible."

If you're still dealing with flooded waters, New Hanover County encourages you to first, avoid the water if you can. Wear protective gear, like clothes and gloves, while cleaning up to prevent cuts. If you do get a cut, wash the wound with soap and water to prevent infection.

When cleaning out mold, use soap and water or bleach on hard, non-porous surfaces. Always wear gloves, a mask, and goggles and throw away porous items like mattresses and clothes.

 "If they notice any symptoms at all, if they notice a smell even after they think they cleaned everything up and things seem to be dried up, they need to get an expert in there to examine the home to see if they have some issues in some places where they can't visualize," said Howard.

County officials encourage residents to, above all, be safe during this storm aftermath.

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