*UPDATE #3 – 8:25 a.m.* North Attleborough Officials Provide Safety Tips for Residents with Flood Damage

NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH — Town Manager Michael Borg and Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director Christopher Coleman are offering some safety tips for residents whose homes have sustained flood and water damage from last night’s storm.

Approximately 200 homes were reported to have flood damage in North Attleborough following the heavy rainfall that caused significant damage throughout town Monday night, Sept. 11. North Attleborough Fire responded to 145 calls for service last night, mostly related to flooding and water issues.

Town Manager Borg and Chief Coleman are providing the following tips from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency: 

Clean Up Your Home and Check for Damage

• Check your home for damage:
  • Never touch electrical equipment while you are wet or standing in water. Consider hiring a qualified electrician to assess damage to electrical systems.
  • Have damaged septic tanks or leaching systems repaired as soon as possible to reduce potential health hazards.
  • If your home or property is damaged, take photos or videos to document your damage, and contact your insurance company.
• Avoid entering moving or standing floodwaters. Floodwater and mud may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, or raw sewage.
• Clean and disinfect anything that got wet. Take precautions. Wear appropriate protective equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, and face masks.
  • Flooded floors and walls should be washed with a solution of two capfuls of household bleach for each gallon of water.
  • Carpeting, mattresses, and upholstered furniture should be disposed of or disinfected by a professional cleaner.
  • Remove and replace any drywall or other paneling that has been underwater. Use a moisture meter to make sure that wooden studs and framing are dry before replacing the drywall. Mold growth in hidden places is a significant health hazard.
• Consider using professional cleaning and repair services before attempting to repair flood-damaged property.

General Safety

• Stay away from downed utility wires. Always assume a downed power line is live. Electrocution is also a serious danger in floods as electrical currents can travel through water.
• “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!” – Don’t drive through flooded roads.
• Stay out of damaged buildings and away from affected areas or roads until authorities deem them safe.
• If your power is out, report outages to your utility company and follow our power outage safety tips.
• Look before you step. Debris, including broken bottles and nails can cover the ground and floors after a flood. Mud covered floors and stairs can be slippery.
• Throw away food (including canned items) that has come in contact with floodwaters. Don’t eat food from flooded gardens. Throw away any refrigerated food that was not kept at temperatures above 40 °F for more than two hours or that has an unusual odor, color, or texture.

• Call 9-1-1 to report emergencies, including downed power lines and gas leaks.
• Stay away from downed utility wires. Always assume a downed power line is live.

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