When a dwelling is damaged by violent water set off by a natural disaster the result is at times shocking. The homeowner is flustered and totally astounded. There is a lot of damage to the home and stuff inside and outside of it that it is difficult to determine where to start to clean up and repair all the devastation. One of the things that will have to be dealt with is what to do with the food stuff in the cupboards and in the fruit and vegetable garden.

Commercial flood service waters might be toxic and tainted with sewage waste, bug killers, and hazardous chemicals of all varieties. This is not something you want to have all over the commercial food you swallow or in the water you sip. It is extremely critical that you understand how to manage the clean-up of your food and water sources to preclude serious risks to your family's health.

If you have food in a garden that was engulfed with dirty flood water do not try to harvest it. There is no definite process to get it clean enough to be eaten. The temperature that you need to use to make the food will not be hot enough to destroy any microorganisms and other germs that have stuck to the vegetables making them harmful to ingest. Any garden products will need to be thrown out.

Food items like animal proteins, eggs, and dairy goods must be thrown in the garbage. They will be infected by the flood waters and almost certainly have spoiled also. Throw out any loose food in your home and any food that is stored in paper or cardboard as it most likely was soaked with flood water and thus polluted. Uncooked vegetables of any type should not be consumed.

Canned goods are about the only food products in your home that are salvageable. Look at them to see if any of them are swollen, have busted seals, or if there are signs of seepage. Throw away any cans that you are uncertain about. The cans that remain in acceptable shape could be saved. Take off the labels from the cans as they are likely to be inundated with filthy flood water. Use a permanent marker to mark what is in all of the cans. The cans will need to be disinfected before they are ever unsealed. Clean the cans in very hot water with dish detergent then sanitize them in a chlorine product. They should be dry to keep the cans from rusting. Any sealed bottles have to be examined for leakage and then washed similar to the canned goods. Get rid of any bottles that were unsealed and discard any bottles that are sealed with a stopper as the stopper will suck up the contaminated water.

Be careful that you have on shielding gear such as rubber gloves when you handle the food, bottles, and cans so that you don't get the poisons in the flood water on your body as this could make you quite sick. All counters, appliances, pots dishes, and utensils need to be cleansed and sanitized before they are used to make food or consume food with.

BlueWaterArticles.com: - Commercial Food Is Impacted By Wind And Flood Damage

About the Author

Evie Parrish researches restoration items for homeowners for Oyster Bay Cove, NY Wind Damage Restoration and Valley Stream, NY Commercial Flood Service