DU PAGE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CONTINUING TO COORDINATE WITH COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY RECENT FLOODING
 

With the State of Illinois declaring DuPage County, and 11 other counties, a state disaster area resulting from last weekend's heavy rain and isolated flooding, the County's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (OHSEM) is continuing to work with residents, as well as county villages and municipalities, regarding how to move forward with clean-up and debris removal. 

What does "state disaster area" mean?  According to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, "The state's response and recovery assets include personnel to assist with security and public safety, as well as work crews to speed up debris removal. The state also can provide equipment, such as trucks and heavy machinery, to address safety issues and debris removal." (Source:  State of Illinois Press Release, July 26, 2010).

"I want to commend our Emergency Management team for their rapid response to last weekend's flooding," said DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom.  "By coordinating with officials from throughout the county, we can ensure our residents are receiving the necessary assistance during this difficult time."

As residents continue to clean up from the past weekend's flooding, OHSEM is encouraging residents to follow these important safety tips:

--Avoid floodwaters. Do not let children play in the water.
--Be aware of areas where water has receded. Roadways may have weakened and could collapse.
--Avoid downed power lines and muddy water where power lines may have fallen.
--Return home only when authorities say it is safe to do so.
--Discard food that may have been contaminated.
--Check on sewage systems. If damaged, these can be a serious hazard.

Standing water can also produce mold.  According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), homeowners should follow the guidelines below if they discover mold:

--If there has been a lot of water damage, and/or mold growth covers more than 10 square feet, consult EPA's Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings.  Although focused on schools and commercial buildings, this document is applicable to other building types.
--If you choose to hire a contractor (or other professional service provider) to do the cleanup, make sure the contractor has experience cleaning up mold.  Check references and ask the contractor to follow the recommendations in EPA's Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, the guidelines of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygenists (ACGIH), or other guidelines from professional or government organizations.
--If you suspect that the heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) system may be contaminated with mold (it is part of an identified moisture problem, for instance, or there is mold near the intake to the system), consult EPA's guide Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned? before taking further action. Do not run the HVAC system if you know or suspect that it is contaminated with mold - it could spread mold throughout the building.
--If the water and/or mold damage was caused by sewage or other contaminated water, then call in a professional who has experience cleaning and fixing buildings damaged by contaminated water.
--If you have health concerns, consult a health professional before starting cleanup.

For more information, or to learn about future emergency news and announcements, please visit www.dupageco.org.