Hurricane Maria: How to Help Loved Ones in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Extreme Heat

Flood Safety

Food and Water Safety

Returning Home and Clean-up

CO Poisoning

Extreme Heat

Flood Safety

Food and Water Safety

Mold

Returning Home and Cleanup

Click this link for more Text Messages for Mobile Devices.

Hurricane Maria caused dangerous and destructive high winds, flooding, heavy rain, and storm surges. Now, people affected by the storm face risk from carbon monoxide poisoning, downed power lines, mold, and other threats. Recovering from hurricanes can be difficult mentally and physically. Here are some tips to help you stay safe and healthy after the hurricane.

• Do not drive through flooded areas and standing water. Turn around, don’t drown!
• Avoid Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning. Keep the generator at least 20 ft outside any door and window. Don’t grill inside. Fumes can kill.
• Use bottled, boiled, or treated water for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene.
• Throw away perishable foods—like meat, seafood, milk, and eggs—that have not been refrigerated properly due to power outages or have come in contact with floodwater.
• If it’s hot, move to a cool place, take sips of water, and take cool showers.
• Throw away any drugs that may have been contaminated with floodwater.
• If you are pregnant, drink lots of clean water and get plenty of rest—especially when you are sick.
• Call SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Hotline at 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 if you need counseling support. For assistance in Spanish you can call or text HABLANOS at 1-212-461-4635.

For more tips on how you can stay safe after the hurricane visit:
English: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/after.html
Spanish: https://www.cdc.gov/es/disasters/hurricanes/after.html

El huracán María causó inundaciones, lluvias torrenciales, marejadas y vientos fuertes peligrosos y destructivos. Ahora, las personas afectadas por la tormenta afrontan el riesgo de intoxicación por monóxido de carbono, cables de tendido eléctrico caídos, moho y otras amenazas. La recuperación después de un huracán puede ser difícil mental y físicamente. Aquí comparto unos consejos para ayudarte a mantenerte sano y salvo después del huracán.

• Recuerda no manejar por áreas inundadas ni por agua acumulada. ¡Da la vueltay no te ahogues!
• Evita la intoxicacione por monóxido de carbono (CO). Coloca el generador a al menos a 20 pies de las puertas y ventanas. No uses la parrilla para cocinar adentro. Los gases pueden matar.
• Usa agua embotellada, hervida o tratada para beber, cocinar y la higiene personal.
• Bota los alimentos perecederos (como la carne, los mariscos, la leche y los huevos) que no se hayan mantenido adecuadamente refrigerados debido a los cortes de electricidad o que hayan entrado en contacto con agua de inundación.
• Si hace calor, ve a un lugar fresco, toma sorbos de agua y báñate con agua fría.
• Bota los medicamentos que puedan haber sido contaminados con el agua de inundación.
• Bebe mucha agua limpia y descanse, especialmente si te sintes mal
• Llama a la línea de ayuda de SAMHSA para sobrellevar la angustia provocada por desastres al 1-800-985-5990 o envíe el mensaje TalkWithUs (Háblanos) al 66746 si necesita apoyo de consejería. Para recibir asistencia en español puedes llamar o enviar la palabra HABLANOS al 1-212-461-4635.

Para obtener más consejos sobre cómo mantenerte seguro después de un huracán, visita:
En inglés: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/after.html
En español: https://www.cdc.gov/es/disasters/hurricanes/after.html

Generators release carbon monoxide (CO) that can be deadly. Make sure to keep your generator outside, at least 20 feet away from your (and your neighbors’) home. When using a generator, use a battery-powered or battery backup CO detector in your home.

For more information on how to prevent CO poisoning, visit Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning After an Emergency.

Be aware of yours and others’ risk for heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps and fainting. If it’s hot, move to a cooler place, take sips of clean water, and take cool showers if authorities say the water is safe for bathing.

For additional heat safety tips, visit Tips for Preventing Heat-Related Illness.

Throw away food that might have touched flood or storm water, perishable foods, and those with an unusual odor, color, or texture.

For more information, visit Keep Food and Water Safe After a Disaster or Emergency.

When the power is out, throw away any medication that should be refrigerated, unless the drug’s label says otherwise. If your life depends on the refrigerated drugs, use them only until a new supply is available. Replace all refrigerated drugs as soon as possible.

Visit Disaster Information for People With Chronic Conditions and Disabilities for more information.

If you need counseling support, you can call SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Hotline at 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746. For assistance in Spanish you can call or text HABLANOS at 1-212-461-4635.

For more information on how to cope after a disaster, visit Coping with a Disaster or Traumatic Event.

NEVER touch a fallen power line. Do not drive through standing water if downed power lines are in the water. If a power line falls across your car while you are driving, stay inside the vehicle and continue to drive away from the line. If the engine stalls, do not turn off the ignition. Do not allow anyone to touch the vehicle. Call or ask someone to call the local utility company and emergency services.

Visit What You Need to Know When the Power Goes Out Unexpectedly for more information on how to stay safe during a power outage.

Make water safe to drink by boiling or adding disinfectants. If you’re using a point-of-use filter (like a filter attached to a pitcher or to your sink), the filtered water should be boiled or disinfected before use. If fuel or toxic chemicals contaminated the water, you cannot make it safe by filtering, boiling, or disinfecting. Listen for recommendations from local authorities for boiling or treating water in your area.

CDC offers more information on how to make your water safe on the website at Keep Food and Water Safe After a Disaster or Emergency.