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Thursday, July 10, 2025 at 10:17 PM
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Lessons Learned -- After a Flood

Lessons Learned -- After a Flood
Frenchman Flat on the south side of Highway 50 after the rains last weekend.

With all the heavy rains this last week I thought I would write about flood safety. Since 2002 when I arrived in Churchill, I can’t remember heavy rain this early in the season. Flash floods result from intense storms dropping large amounts of rain in a short period of time. The rain will help with the draught and help extinguish wildfires, but the downside of this rain is flooding and mudslides.

Before a Flood

Familiarize yourself with the local flood hazards. Plan for different ways escape in the event of a flood. Have a family disaster kit with at least 3 days of food and water ready to go in an instant.

During a Flood

If the flooding reaches your home or business turn off utilities at the main electrical panel and gas valve. Don’t touch electric equipment if you are wet or standing in water. Do not wade through swift running water or allow your children to play in floodwaters. Six inches of swift moving water can sweep anyone off their feet. Do not drive in flooded streets, it only takes one foot of swift water to move a vehicle. If floodwaters rise around your vehicle, abandon the vehicle, move to higher ground but only move if you can do it safely. Stay away from power lines.

After a Flood

Try to stay out of floodwater as it could be contaminated from sewer lines and many other sources. During a typhoon I responded to a warehouse fire in Okinawa, Between the rain and firefighting water we were walking in about six inches of water. We decontaminated our turnout gear, but the next day the bottoms of the turnout pants disintegrated.

If you evacuated, return to your home only after local authorities have said it is safe to do so. When in doubt, throw it out. Throw away any food and bottled water that comes or may have come into contact with floodwater. The initial damage by a flood is not the only risk. Standing floodwater can also spread infectious diseases, bring chemical hazards, and cause injuries.

After you return to your house or business if you find that it was flooded practice safe cleaning. Remove and throw out all drywall and insulation that was contaminated with floodwater or sewage. Throw out items that can’t be washed and cleaned with a bleach solution like mattresses, pillows, carpeting, carpet padding, and stuffed toys. Clean walls, hard-surfaced floors, and other household surfaces with soap and water and disinfect with a solution of one cup of bleach to five gallons of water.

Home and business owners may want to temporarily store items outside until insurance claims can be filed.

Remember it’s not only the flood itself that is dangerous. Standing floodwaters contain massive amounts of contamination. Notify your insurance company. Throw out water-damaged items and clean wisely before moving back into your home or business. Be safe.

 

Stuart Cook was the Fed Fire Chief at NAS Fallon where he served for five years. He retired in Fallon and is involved in the VFW and recently attended the Honor Flight to Washington D.C.


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Comment author: Mike HinzComment text: I knew Sam as a member of our church growing up. He always had a warm smile, a kind word, and a great sense of humor! He will be great missed!Comment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:57 AMComment source: Obituary -- Samuel Bruce WickizerComment author: Mike HinzComment text: Great teacher, great coach, but even a better person!!! Rest in peace Mr. BeachComment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:53 AMComment source: Obituary -- Jack Victor Beach, Jr.Comment author: Mike HinzComment text: I had Mrs Hedges for First Grade at Northside Elementary in 1969. I still, to this day, remember her as a wonderful teacher…one of my favorites!!Comment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:29 AMComment source: Obituary - Nancy Marie Hedges C Comment author: Carl C. HagenComment text: What are MFNs and PBMs ?? ............................ From the editor: This is a very good question and we apologize for not catching that wasn't in there. We reached out to the writer/submitter and got this info back...hope it's helpful. PBM: Pharmacy Benefit Managers are pharmacies that are owned by insurance companies. (CVS is one.) They negotiate with drug makers to get reduced pricing for medications, but they historically have not passed along those savings to patients. https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/pharmacy-benefit-managers-staff-report.pdf MFN: Most Favored Nation pricing is a policy that means a country agrees to offer the same trade concessions (like tariffs or price reductions) to all member nations of the World Trade Organization (WTO). When applied to pharmaceuticals, it could disrupt global access, deter innovation, and obscure the deeper systemic issues in American health care. https://petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2025/05/22/the-global-risks-of-americas-most-favored-nation-drug-pricing-policy/Comment publication date: 6/23/25, 7:47 AMComment source: L E T T E R TO THE EDITOR
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