It’s hurricane season and 2024 has already produced Hurricane Helene and Milton is banging on Tampa Bay’s door step. Chuck Fuller, a resident of Treasure Island, Florida was interviewed by Fox News after choosing to hunker down for Helene.  “We have been on the island for twelve years and we have gone through numerous storms, and we have always stayed in our three story townhome. It was Thursday evening when the surge hit and within twenty minutes we had four feet of water running through the first floor of our home. We lost everything on the first floor, including two cars. Now with the threat of a catastrophic storm hitting this area, we are preparing by sandbagging, salvaging anything from the first floor, and boarding up. This is the first time in twelve years we will be leaving. Heed the advice of the officials and GET OUT because we have never seen a storm of this magnitude”. 

Chuck is referring to the incoming behemoth Hurricane Milton which is anticipated to land a huge blow to Florida’s west coast. We hope and pray that those residents evacuate the coastal areas and seek shelter inland. Though not out of the line of fire, people will avoid a dangerous storm surge  with water levels as much as 10 to 15 feet above ground level.

Water Water Everywhere But Nothing To Drink

After a storm where major flooding is present the sewer system is overloaded and the water supply is likely to be contaminated. That means any water that has been exposed to the flood waters cannot be used for drinking and only bottled water should be drunk. There are numerous reasons as to why not to drink the kitchen tap water and we will list some below.

1 – Power Outages: The problem is when water treatment plants lose power. This stops the process of the water being treated properly for human and animal consumption. The water treatment plants will filter out any unwanted elements such as particles of debris and tiny bacterias that are harmful to people and pets. When that goes offline due to a power outage that will result in a “boil water advisory”.

2 – Flooding Waters: Not always is the damage just by the shoreline when a major storm hits. Due to the heavy rains that come with the storm, leaves and debris will tend to clog levies and drainage systems. Once the sewer drains are overloaded and not functioning properly the result is flooding. Sometimes it may be a river overflowing while other times it could be a clogged drain, in any case the result is the same “major flooding”. Without a proper drainage system for sewage and pollutants, those unwanted elements can get into the drinking water supply. If that is the case your local municipality will send out a “boil water alert” or recommend drinking bottled spring water. If you are unsure whether or not your tap water is safe to drink, look at the color of the water for cloudiness or particles. Often the water will still be clear so it is best to play it safe prior to consuming your next glass of water.

3 – Storm Damage: Just like hurricanes can cause power outages to water treatment plants they can inflict storm damage to them as well. For the town of Asheville, North Carolina, they have three water treatment plants of which two in the mountainous region are still offline. When there is damage to a water treatment plant the length of time until one can begin drinking tap water can be indefinite, as is the case in Asheville. One needs to understand that these water treatment plants are the vital arteries to dispersing safe drinking water to residents. If they are not functioning properly there is simply no way to treat the water.     

What To Do During a “Boil Water Advisory”?

First things first is to take it seriously as many people often have the false perception that this might not apply to their specific neighborhood. Residents may also give the false notion that our bodies can handle the “bad water”. During a “boil water advisory” there is a good chance that the tap water coming into your home might contain harmful bacteria or viruses. The last thing anybody would want is to consume these negative elements.

1 – Heed The Alert From Local Authorities: Have a way of being updated by your local municipality on the status of the current condition of the drinking water. Some have a website, social network, or phone number where residents can check the status  if the “boil water advisory” is still in effect.

2 – Boil Water For At Least One Minute: In order to be certain that the harmful bacteria or viruses have been killed you need to boil the water for one minute. Once that is done the water is now safe to be used for drinking, cooking, and for brushing teeth. A good idea would be to get a hold of an empty five gallon water jug and to prepare a nice amount of water so that you don’t need to keep taking out the pot every time you’re going to need water for drinking or food consumption. 

3 – Try Using Bottled Water: Using bottled spring water will always be the best option as you are not relying on a tainted source for drinking water. Bottled water is safe and it also will taste better then the treated water you boiled on your stove top. It also avoids using the gas range when the power is out.       

4 – Taking a Shower During a Boiled Water Advisory: Probably the most frequent question asked during a boiled water advisory is can I take a shower? The answer is yes, just keep your mouth closed. The main issue is when the water goes directly into your body through drinking or eating. During a bath or shower the water goes against your body and with the combination of soap and shampoo, the potential contaminants are likely killed.      

What Else Should I Look Out For During a Boil Water Advisory?

Besides for the actual consumption of tap water during a boil water advisory there are other ways people can ingest the bad water post a major storm. We usually think of the commonalities like drinking and eating but you will be surprised that there are other ways that bad water can get into the body. 

1 – Lookout For Your Pets: Keep an eye out to make sure your cat or dog is not drinking the water coming out of the tap. Just as the bacteria and pollutants are harmful for humans they are just as harmful for pets. The way to ensure that they don’t drink the bad water is to provide easy access to clean water.

2 – Washing Fruit & Vegetables: Yes, you will have to wash your fruits and vegetables during a “boiled water advisory”. People will overlook the habitual action of going to the sink and rinsing an apple prior to chomping into it. Be on the lookout for family members and any food that might hang around the kitchen sink. 

3 – Ice Maker: During the warm months people love using the ice maker to chill their drinks. However during a “boiled water advisory” those square crystals of water can potentially contain bacteria and pollutants. Best off is to turn off the ice maker completely as you don’t want to clog the line with debris.

4 – Dental Care: Brushing teeth should be done with spring water as the fluid in one’s mouth can be easily ingested. At the same time, people that use water picks should fill up the reservoir with bottled water. The challenge during a “boil water advisory” is to notice the routine tasks done with tap water and see to it that they are done with boiled or bottled water. Station water bottles around the bathrooms in your home and people will remember to make an adjustment until the advisory is over.

Final Words

Hurricanes are no fun and bring a headache load with it. Here in NJ we had Hurricane Sandy that had a storm surge of four to five feet. That devastated the shoreline and took years to clean up. The anticipated storm surge for Milton is expected to be anywhere from ten to fifteen feet. Even without all the rain and wind that can cause total devastation, local authorities are demanding all to leave the shoreline and move inland. At this point Uber is even offering free rides to get residents out as the area is in grave danger. 

As the residents of Florida brace for a once in a century storm, Milton, please put in a prayer for them. No one can imagine the pain and suffering of what it means to lose or sustain damage to a home. The main thing is that everyone should be safe and if the storm does follow a “boil water advisory” follow instructions from local officials. They will guide you as to what to do during this time and when you will be once again allowed to drink tap water. We hope all will heed the call to leave but time is running out. Stay safe Floridians!