R 111555Z SEP 18
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-113//
TO ALSAFETY
UNCLAS//N05100//
ALSAFETY 013/18
SUBJ: HURRICANE SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH GUIDANCE
A. Safety & Environmental Health Manual, CIM5100.47 (series)
B. Occupational Medicine Manual, CIM6260.32 (series)
C. Motor Vehicle Manual, CIM11240.9 (series)
1. Hurricane response involves high-tempo operations in austere environments with chemical, physical and biological hazards. Below are common hazards to recognize and avoid during hurricane operations to keep responders safe and readiness high. Incident Management Team Safety Officers and HSWL Service Center safety professionals can provide additional information upon request.    
2. Water Quality
A. Water supplies often become contaminated during hurricanes and require additional actions to ensure safety before consumption. Drinking contaminated water may cause illness. Listen to local public announcements and safety advisories for information regarding the safety of your water supply. 
B. Consume only bottled, boiled, or properly disinfected water. Check with local authorities to determine if a health advisory or boil water order is in effect.  
C. Water Treatment. In the event of a health department advisory, boiling tap water is the best method for making water safe to drink. When conducted properly, boiling water will kill bacterial, parasitic, and viral causes of diarrhea. Boil water vigorously for at least one minute and then allow it to cool. Then, disinfect the water by adding 8 drops of unscented liquid bleach per gallon of water, mix thoroughly, and let water stand for 30 minutes before consuming. Water potentially contaminated with chemicals cannot be made safe through conventional means and should not be treated or consumed. 
D. Potable water storage. After boiling, water intended for storage must be disinfected as noted above. Store water in clean plastic containers such as soft drink bottles with tight-fitting lids. Keep at least a three-day supply of potable water on hand (one-gallon per person per day).
3. Sanitation and Hygiene
A. Storm surge and flood water may contain fecal material from overflowing sewage systems and/or chemical contaminants from various sources. Consider all flood water to be contaminated and avoid contact. 
B. Prevent open cuts, sores, or wounds from exposure to flood water. If exposed, wash with soap and clean water followed by the application of a topical antibiotic ointment. If skin develops redness, swelling, or drainage, seek medical attention.  
C. Good basic personal hygiene and hand washing are critical to help prevent the spread of illness and disease. Wash hands with soap and clean running water while preparing food, before eating, before and after treating a wound, after using the toilet, etc.
4. Food Safety
A. To be safe, remember, ‘When in doubt throw it out.’ Discard any food that has been at room temperature for two hours or more, and any food that has an unusual odor, color, or texture. A refrigerator will keep foods cool for about four hours without power and freezers will keep foods frozen for about two days if doors are unopened. Twenty-four (24) hours prior to hurricane impact, move cooked meats from the refrigerator to a freezer to help prevent spoilage. 
B. Do not eat foods that have been in contact with contaminated water. Do not prepare or eat food requiring reconstitution with water unless the water is from a confirmed safe source or has been properly disinfected. 
C. Be cautious when using ice. Waterlines may have been contaminated during a disaster. If using an automatic ice maker, ensure that you do not consume the first few cycles of ice if contamination is suspected or confirmed. Disinfect ice making equipment and storage bins after following ice flushing cycles. 
D. Provide adequate hand washing facilities. Use single service eating and drinking utensils. Keep food preparation surfaces clean and disinfected and avoid contact between raw and ready-to-eat foods. Use refrigerated foods first, then frozen foods. Post an inventory of food items on the refrigerator door to reduce the need to open the door.
5. Wastes and Garbage.
A. Ensure all biodegradable food waste is placed in heavy plastic bags. These bags must be placed into sturdy trashcan receptacles with a tight fitting lid to prevent access by rodents, flies, other vermin, and wildlife. 
B. If necessary, use non-potable water to flush toilets. If permanent lavatories are not available, use commercial chemical toilets or portable lavatories with fly-tight doors and toilet lids. Provide a means for disinfecting surfaces.
6. Mosquitoes
A. Standing water supports an ideal mosquito habitat. Mosquito bites can transmit disease to humans including Malaria, Dengue, Zika, and others. Eliminate standing water where mosquitoes develop. Avoid bites by staying indoors especially at dawn and dusk. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors. Install or repair window and door screens. 
B. Repel mosquitoes with permethrin (on clothing only) or DEET on skin.  Do not saturate the skin. A higher percentage of DEET in repellent increases protection time, but does not give more protection. Concentrations of up to 30 percent DEET can be applied to adults and children over the age of two. Repellents used on children from two months to two years should not contain more than 10 percent DEET. 
C. Do not allow children to apply repellents themselves. Avoid applying repellent to the hands of children. 
7. Moisture Intrusion and Mold  
A. Hurricanes and tropical storms often force water and moisture into facilities and buildings through wind-driven rain and storm surges. In addition, structural damage often creates additional pathways (i.e. roof failures) for water to enter buildings and will continue to introduce moisture until repairs have been completed. 
B. A primary public health concern following these storms, aside from building structural integrity, is mold growth resulting from moisture intrusion. 
C. Mold growth is a big concern when a building experiences moisture intrusions that are not immediately addressed. Therefore, eliminating sources of moisture and increasing air flow to effectively dry impacted materials as soon as possible are the primary mold prevention strategies.  
D. Mold will begin to grow on virtually any wet surface (behind walls, clothing, furnishings, etc.) under favorable temperature conditions within 24 to 48 hours. Growth will continue if surfaces remain damp. Prevent mold growth indoors by removing any standing water and all wet porous building materials (i.e. drywall) that cannot be thoroughly dried within 24 hours. Porous building materials wet from presumably uncontaminated water can be left in place if thoroughly dried within 24 hours. However, porous building materials wet from sewage overflow or chemical spills (contaminated water) should be removed and discarded using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and safe work practices.
E. You should not enter a building or facility containing large amounts of mold or if you detect strong moldy odors even though you do not see mold. Proper PPE including respiratory protection should be worn prior to entry. 
F. Professional water damage restoration companies can assist in water removal, evaporation, dehumidification and temperature control to prevent mold growth. 
G. For additional guidance, review the Mold & Moisture Safe Work Practice at this link or by visiting the Coast Guard SEH Portal site at: https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/hswlsc/SafeEvHealth/SitePages/Home.aspx. The CG Area Housing Officers and the HSWL SC Safety and Environmental Health Offices can provide additional support by request.
8. Carbon Monoxide (CO)
A. Often referred to as "the silent killer", CO is a deadly, tasteless, odorless, and colorless gas generated during incomplete combustion. Sources include portable generators, gas and charcoal grills, internal combustion engines in vehicles and those used to power equipment, stoves and lanterns, etc.
B. Always keep exhaust (emergency generator, etc.) a safe distance from windows and doors. Never operate combustion engines, food grills, or other CO sources indoors or in partially enclosed spaces like a garage. Position all generators outdoors and away from living areas. 
C. Exposure to CO can cause loss of consciousness and death. The most common acute symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. Personnel who are sleeping can die from CO poisoning before ever experiencing these symptoms. If you think you may be suffering from CO poisoning, get to open air or a well-ventilated area and seek immediate medical attention.
9. Asbestos and Lead Contamination
A. During debris cleanup, prevent exposures to hazardous building materials such as asbestos-containing materials (ACM) and/or lead-containing paint (LCP). 
B. Review the unit asbestos and/or lead hazard management plans to determine the possible presence of ACM and/or LCP prior to disturbing or repairing damaged building materials.
C. Coast Guard personnel are not authorized to engage in abatement, cleanup or other activities that disturb ACM or LCP. If damaged material is presumed ACM or LCP, restrict access to the site and contract a state-licensed and certified professional for abatement. 
10. Safe Driving
A. Due to extraordinary response circumstances, Coast Guard personnel may drive various types of special purpose motorized equipment (SPME), large recreational vehicles, tractors pulling trailers, passenger vans, all-terrain vehicles, and other vehicles transporting personnel and equipment. Personnel must receive appropriate training, be experienced with the vehicles’ operation, and have valid state motor vehicle operator’s license prior to being assigned as operators of SPME and trailers.
B. Vehicle fording is a high-risk evolution that involves operating a motor vehicle in close proximity to, in, or around both standing and moving water. Protection of our people and our vehicles is critical to mounting an effective emergency response and must be carefully examined before and during all vehicle fording operations. Personnel must be properly trained, prepared, and equipped to conduct these evolutions safely. The new Coast Guard Vehicle Fording Safe Work Practice (SWP) is available at this link or by visiting the Coast Guard SEH Portal site at: https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/hswlsc/SafeEvHealth/SitePages/Home.aspx. The SWP covers mission planning, pre-fording, fording, and post-fording guidance and includes a quick reference sheet for use in the field. Coast Guard personnel must be prepared to safely ford flooded roadways in order to accomplish our missions.   
10. General Safety Precautions
A. During hurricane cleanup, avoid injury by wearing proper clothing including long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and safety shoes or boots. Remember to conduct a thorough scan throughout the area to detect debris with sharp, pointed, or jagged protrusions that can pierce the skin. Be aware of broken glass, metal fragments, and other debris present in water. Be vigilant of snakes, rodents, insects and other animals hiding in debris.
B. When returning, determine if authorities have declared the area safe. Ensure the main electrical power is off before entering a structure. If possible, listen to the radio or contact authorities to find out if sewage lines are intact before flushing toilets. 
C. All electrical appliances must be completely dry before attempting to use them. When operating a chain saw, use proper safety procedures including looking out for downed power lines and wearing eye protection, gloves, and chaps. 
D. During response operations, all deployment-related mishaps involving Coast Guard personnel or property must be investigated and reported by the host unit on the ICS-237, Incident Mishap Reporting Record and entered by the host unit in the CG eMisReps system at https://hswl.uscg.mil/. 
E. In accordance with reference (B), all Coast Guard personnel acute exposures must be immediately reported to the servicing clinic in the area of operations and be recorded on an Acute Exposure Information Form, CG-6000-1.  
11. More information on hurricane preparedness can be obtained at https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.
12. HSWL SC (se) points of contact: CDR H.P. Hurst, (757) 628-4403 or email Harold.P.Hurst@uscg.mil or CDR P.S. Wallace, (757) 628-4410 or email Patrick.S.Wallace@uscg.mil. 
13. Mr. Glenn Gebele, Chief of Safety and Environmental Health, sends.
14. Internet release authorized.