Floodwater can pose certain health risks, potentially exposing people to infectious diseases, chemical hazards and physical injuries.
Former Category 4 hurricane Hilary has brought heavy rainfall to parts of the southwestern United States, causing extensive flooding in some areas. But what health risks does floodwater pose?
Hilary made landfall along the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico on Sunday morning as a tropical storm, before its center moved up through Southern California and Nevada.
The storm has continued to weaken and, early Monday morning, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) downgraded Hilary to a „post-tropical cyclone“.
However, the latest NHC public advisory, issued at 2 a.m. PT/5 a.m. ET Monday, said „continued life-threatening and locally catastrophic flooding“ is expected over portions of the southwestern U.S. today.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says floodwater can potentially expose people to infectious diseases, chemical hazards and injuries, depending on the situation.
