THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 13, 1996 TAG: 9607130279
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A13 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: 241 lines
SAFETY AFTER THE STORM
FOOD:
The main rule of food safety is, ``If you have any doubt, throw
it out.'' Here are some food-safety guidelines from the Virginia
Beach Cooperative Extension Service:
From the freezer
Without power, a full freezer will keep food for about two days.
A half-full freezer will keep foods for about one day.
Make the food last as long as possible by keeping the freezer
door shut.
When the power returns, you can refreeze foods that still contain
ice crystals.
From the refrigerator
The refrigerator will stay cool for four to six hours without
power, depending on the temperature in your kitchen.
Discard the following items if they are kept for more than two
hours at above 40 degrees: Raw or cooked meat, poultry, or seafood;
lunch meat; milk, cream, yogurt, custard, soft cheese, eggs, egg
substitutes; cooked pasta or salads; stews, soups, casseroles;
mayonnaise or tartar sauce; refrigerator cookie dough, cream-filled
pastries, chiffon or cheese pie; meat-topped pizza.
At room temperature
Throw out anything that turns moldy or has an unusual odor or
appearance. Otherwise, these foods will keep at room temperature for
a few days: butter, margarine; fresh fruits and vegetables; dried
fruits; opened peanut butter, jelly, relish, taco sauce, barbecue
sauce, mustard, ketchup, olives, pickles; hard and processed
cheeses; fruit juices; fruit pies, rolls, cakes and muffins.
IF THERE IS FLOODING
If flood waters come in contact with food, the water may carry
silt, oil or waste. Discard meats, produce and jars, such as
mayonnaise, sealed with wax liners. Also throw away all foods in
cardboard boxes, paper, foil and cloth; home-canned items; opened
containers; and dented, leaking, bulging or rusted cans.
Sanitize commercial jars and cans: Mark the contents. Remove
labels, and wash containers in a strong detergent solution with a
scrub brush. Immerse containers for 15 minutes in a solution of 2
teaspoons bleach per quart of water and allow to air-dry.
Sanitize dishes and glasses in the same way as canned goods.
To disinfect pots and pans, boil them for 10 minutes.
Discard wooden spoons, plastic utensils, baby-bottle nipples and
pacifiers.
WATER:
After a major storm, assume that all water sources are
contaminated until proven safe, says the Virginia Cooperative
Extension Service. Purify all water used for drinking, cooking and
washing dishes.
Disinfect water in one of these ways:
Heat water to a rolling boil for 10 minutes. Once the storm has
passed, use grills and camp stoves (outdoors only) to cook food and
boil water. Small electrical appliances can be used if you have an
electrical generator. If you have to build a fire outside, build it
away from buildings and carports.
Add eight drops of liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water.
Make sure the bleach has no active ingredient other than 4 to 6
percent sodium hypochlorite.
Add 20 drops of 2 percent iodine per gallon of clear water, or
40 drops per gallon of cloudy water.
Add water purification tablets, according to the directions on
the package.
With any of these methods, throughly mix solutions and let the
water sit for 30 minutes before using.
Always use clean or purified water to wash any part of the body
that comes in contact with flood waters.
Listen to radio and other reports from local officials. In most
cases, residents who get city water can drink it without concern.
People who get water from private wells should boil it for three to
five minutes to kill bacteria.
POWER
Electricity
If flooding starts in your house, or if you evacuate, turn off
your power at the main breaker.
Report broken power lines, sparks, fire or other electrical
equipment damage to an electric company customer service official.
Utilities also want to hear about broken tree limbs on lines.
If your power is out, leave a message on the electric company's
computerized voice response system. Your message will be cataloged,
and repair crews will be dispatched as soon as possible.
Don't go near downed lines, nor touch them.
Natural gas
If you smell natural gas, or have reason to believe a line is
broken, leave the house immediately and call the gas company from a
neighbor's house. Don't go home until the problem is resolved. If
flooding starts in your home, it's a good idea to turn off gas lines
- but only if you know how. If you don't, an alternate step is to
turn off the pilots on gas appliances. But, again, only if you know
how. If you evacuate, it's not necessary to shut off gas lines.
Generators
Don't use a portable generator unless you've installed a bypass
switch. Without such a precaution, your generator may energize a
downed power line.
DOWNED TREES:
Leave the cleanup to professionals if trees are leaning on houses
or if power and utility lines are down. If you use a chain saw, be
sure you know its proper use - most of the injuries and fatalities
from 1992's Hurricane Andrew occurred after the storm had passed.
Local rental companies rent gas and electrical chain saws and should
explain how to use them properly.
CARS AND DRIVING:
Avoid flooded roadways. Water can hide debris that can damage
your car; it can also stall the engine. Wet brakes can also be
dangerous.
Cars manufactured since 1985 are at greater risk in flooding
because many have expensive computers in low, vulnerable spots. In
Hondas, for instance, the computer is under the passenger seat.
Computers can cost anywhere from $200 to several thousand dollars to
replace.
If your car doesn't start, it's a good idea to let it dry out for
a few days and then try again. If it still doesn't start, get it
towed to a mechanic.
If you have to drive on flooded roads, go slowly. Keep your
foot on the brakes, even while accelerating, to help keep the rotors
dry.
BEWARE FLOODED STREETS
STAFF REPORT
Specific spots in South Hampton Roads prone to flooding:
NORFOLK
Try to avoid the underpasses downtown, and The Hague. Some
intersections tend to gather a great deal of water during major
storms: Tidewater Drive and Charlotte Street; Boush Street and Olney
Road; Llewellyn at 41st Street; Monticello Avenue at 11th Street;
19th Street and Pleasant Avenue in Ocean View.
PORTSMOUTH
Steer clear of Crawford Parkway from Holiday Inn to Court Street;
Wavy Street and Washington Street. Other areas prone to flooding:
Effingham Street at London Boulevard; Churchland Boulevard between
Town Point and West Norfolk roads; and the Interstate 264
underpasses.
VIRGINIA BEACH
It is probable that coastal roads, including those in Sandbridge,
Atlantic Avenue through the resort area and roads near Chesapeake
Beach to the north, will flood. Other places include Princess Anne
Plaza; roads near the Lynnhaven River and Linkhorn Bay; and
Lynnhaven Parkway near Rosemont Road.
CHESAPEAKE
Roads at risk are near large waterways: North Landing River, the
Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River and the Intracoastal
Waterway. Cedar Road and Bainbridge Boulevard under the
triple-decker Military Highway overpass are also trouble spots.
SUFFOLK
Areas that typically flood include the Nansemond River Bridge on
North Main Street; the railroad underpass on East Washington Street;
and Constance Road near the former sewage plant. Also, watch out for
the downtown section of Driver and parts of Nansemond Parkway from
its intersection with Virginia 125 to Florence Bowser School.
NEED SERVICES OR SHELTER?
PHONE NUMBERS
Storm and shelter updates
Infoline: 640-5555, press 1237
Norfolk Line: 664-4010
Virginia Beach Line: 427-3580; for evacuation information, 492;
for drinking water tips, 513; for hurricane terms, 625; for
hurricane preparedness, 626; for information on basic supplies, 628;
for after the hurricane, 632; how to get hurricane bulletins, 633;
shelter information, 630.
Utilities
ELECTRIC
Virginia Power: 858-4660
North Carolina Power: 1-919-473-6780 or 1-800-945-0633; on the
Outer Banks, call 1-919-331-7260 or 1-800-291-7743
Hatteras Island Electric: 1-919-995-5616
Ocracoke Island Electric: 1-919-928-3351
NATURAL GAS
Virginia Natural Gas: 466-5550; after 5 p.m., call 466-5500
Suffolk: 539-2376; after 5 p.m., call 873-6200
Hampton: 873-1322; after 5 p.m., call 873-6200
Newport News: 873-6200
Commonwealth Gas: 399-3961 or 1-800-544-5606
TELEPHONE
Bell Atlantic of Virginia: 611
GTE-Virginia: 1-800-483-1000
Mid-Atlantic Sprint Carolina: 1-919-977-7100
City Services
NORFOLK
Police, fire, rescue: 911
Non-emergency information: 441-5600
VIRGINIA BEACH
Police and fire: 911
Public information: 427-4111
Shelter information: 427-3580, press 630
PORTSMOUTH
Ambulance, police, fire: 911
Emergency Services office: 393-8551
City information: 393-8432
CHESAPEAKE
Ambulance, police and fire: 911
Office of Emergency Services: 547-6464
SUFFOLK
Police and fire emergencies: 911
Police: 925-6415; at night, 925-6350
Information: 934-3111
Emergency Services: 925-6414
Insurance Claims
National Insurance Consumer Helpline: 1-800-942-4242
Virginia State Corporation Commission consumer hotline:
1-800-552-7945.
Some companies:
Aetna Casualty & Surety: 1-800-238-6225
Allstate: policyholders should contact their agents; if storm
hits, company will activate a toll-free phone number for
policyholders who cannot reach their agents. The number will be
1-800-755-4126
Cigna: 1-800-523-9254
Liberty Mutual: 461-6831 or 1-800-746-7421
MetLife: 1-800-854-6011
Prudential: 1-800-437-3535
USAA: 461-5188 or 1-800-531-8222
Nationwide: 1-800-421-3535
State Farm: policyholders should contact their agents; if storm
hits, company will make available a toll-free phone number to help
policyholders who cannot reach their agents.
Travelers: 1-800-252-4366 (for auto and homeowners);
1-800-842-8586 (for commercial insurance)
Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual: 1-800-445-8323
NAVY NUMBERS
When Navy announces arrival times, Infoline will have them.
640-5555, presss 6289.
KEYWORDS: HURRICANE BERTHA by CNB