SACRAMENTO, Calif. — With heavy rain and snow comes flooding risks and all that flood water could be harmful to people's health.
"They can carry sewage and sewage runoff, they can carry chemicals. Those are industrial and also household," said Jason Wilken, epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and California Department of Public Health.
Flood waters carry the risk of damaging property and impacting people's health.
"You could have things like gasoline, paint thinners, other chemicals mixed in (the waters)," said Wilken.
Flood waters are typically muddy and hard to see through. It could cause people to slip or fall. Other things could also be lurking under the water as well.
"You might find, surprise, live animals in floodwaters or dead animals," said Wilken.
For busy mom Jennifer Heatherman in Nevada City, this storm system is compounding problems she's already been dealing with from the last round of storms.
"Our roof is leaking, and I'm a little worried about the snow load and the high amount of precipitation possibly making it worse, or... a lot of water getting into the house through the roof leak," said Heatherman.
She said there's at least three feet of snow on her roof. Luckily, she has her power back on so her family can stay warm, but they're worried about flooding.
"We live on a pretty steep hill, so we're worried about the snow melt causing flooding because certain drainage might be backed up by snow," said Heatherman. "And we're also worried about mudslides."
It's best to avoid contact with flood water and wear rubber gloves and boots if it has to be touched. People should also wash with soap and clean water if it gets on their skin and throw away any food that comes into contact with it.
"Stay out of the flood water and disinfect any surfaces that have come in contact with flood water, after the water has receded of course," said Wilken.
If a home gets flooded or has water damage, be careful for mold.
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