Staying Safe and Finding Resources When You’re Water-logged

The Dept. of Health & Family Services offers safety tips for dealing with flooding,, including steps to take if you need to evacuate your home or clean up water damage; water and food safety; how to prevent common injuries; and special tips for keeping kids safe from injury and contamination.

It’s time to stock up on bug repellent! DHFS also reminds us that even those not directly affected by water damage will likely face increased risk of mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile Virus and encephalitis. The link above has ideas for reducing your exposure to these serious illnesses.

Wisconsin Emergency Management offers many resources and statistics related to this year’s flooding.

Don’t get delayed by an unexpected detour. The Dept. of Transportation offers a list of closed roads and incident alerts.

The Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection warns us against “storm chasers”, scam artists who contract to do clean-up but skip town or provide substandard services.

Whether the damage involves lost precious family photos, sewage in the basement, or extensive damage to your home, DATCP also has a good article on recovering from the emotional aftermath of a disaster.

Concerned about the safety of your well or municipal drinking water? The Dept. of Natural Resources offers guidance on this and other flood-related issues (including whether your favorite hiking trail has been closed).

The U.S. DHHS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a wide variety of on-line public service announcements to keep you healthy in times of flooding. Topics include preventing carbon monoxide poisoning when power is out, emergency wound care, dealing with stress, drying out appliances and more.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers guidance to those who need to apply for federal aid or aren’t sure if they qualify.

Remember that your Employee Assistance Program can help you to find additional resources, address financial challenges, and deal with stressful situations.

Contact Tresa Martinez, City EAP Coordinator at (608) 266-6561 or Symmetry Balanced Workplace Services our external EAP at 1-800-236-7905. Counselors are available by phone 24/7 every day.