Hurricane Helene Safety Advisory

HURRICANE HELENE UPDATES

For the most up-to-date information about modified hours and location closings visit our inclement weather page.

Many fatalities typically occur in the aftermath of major floods due to preventable safety risks. Please
take every precaution to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Boil water advisories

Many local water utilities have been forced to suspend service, and several of those still operating or 
coming back on line are issuing boil water advisories. It’s crucial to follow these advisories, as boiling 
water kills harmful organisms like bacteria, viruses and parasites that can lead to symptoms such as 
nausea, cramps, diarrhea, headaches and other conditions.

The following list of water utilities have issued boil water advisories is up to date as of Sunday, Sept. 
29. Please check with your local municipality for the most current updates. If you’re uncertain whether 
your area is affected, it’s best to err on the side of caution and boil your water before consuming it.

• Elizabethton Water Resources
• Erwin Utilities
• First Utility District of Carter County
• Hampton Utility
• Lee County Public Service Authority
• Mount Rogers Health District
• Newport Utilities
• Smyth County, Virginia
• South Elizabethton Utility District
• Unicoi County

Other municipalities, including the Town of Jonesborough, the Town of Greeneville and Greene County
leaders, are requesting businesses and residents to conserve water.

Stay out of floodwaters

While they may seem calm, floodwaters are extremely dangerous. There could be hidden debris,
wildlife, and even electrical currents. Keep children out of standing water. 

We don’t know exactly what is in floodwater at any given point in time. Floodwater can contain:

• Downed power lines
• Human and livestock waste
• Household, medical, and industrial hazardous waste (chemical, biological, and radiological)
• Coal ash waste that can contain carcinogenic compounds such as arsenic, chromium and 
  mercury
• Other germs and contaminants that can lead to illness
• Physical objects such as lumber, vehicles and debris
• Wild or stray animals such as rodents and snakes

Protect yourself and your loved ones from diarrheal diseases. Be aware that floodwater can contain 
sewage, and eating or drinking anything contaminated by floodwater can cause diarrheal disease 
(such as E. coli or salmonella infection). To protect yourself and your family:

• Wash your hands after contact with floodwater.
• Wash children's hands with soap and water often and always before meals
• Do not allow children to play in floodwater areas
• Do not allow children to play with toys that have been contaminated by floodwater and have 
  not been disinfected
• Do not bathe in water that may be contaminated with sewage or toxic chemicals. This includes 
  rivers, streams or lakes that are contaminated by floodwater

The best way to protect yourself is to stay out of the water, but if you do come in contact with 
floodwater:

• Wash the area with soap and clean water as soon as possible. If you don't have soap or water, 
  use alcohol-based wipes or sanitizer
• Take care of wounds and seek medical attention if necessary
•  Wash clothes contaminated with flood or sewage water in hot water and detergent before 
  reusing them

If you must enter floodwater, wear rubber boots, rubber gloves and goggles.

Preventing infection of open wounds and rashes is important. Open wounds and rashes exposed to 
floodwater can become infected. To protect yourself and your family:

• Avoid exposure to floodwater if you have an open wound.
• Cover clean, open wounds with a waterproof bandage to reduce chance of infection.
• Keep open wounds as clean as possible by washing well with soap and clean water.
• If a wound develops redness, swelling, or oozing, seek immediate medical attention.

Seek medical attention as soon as possible if:

• There is a foreign object (soil, wood, metal, or other objects) embedded in the wound.
• The wound is at special risk of infection (such as a dog bite or a puncture by a dirty object).
• An old wound shows signs of becoming infected (increased pain and soreness, swelling, redness, 
  draining or you develop a fever).

If no clean running water is available, the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer continues to be the 
preferred method for hand hygiene.

Do not use generators indoors

The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is fatal. Generators should only be used in well-ventilated,
outdoor areas.

Be cautious with heavy equipment and chainsaws

If you are unfamiliar with using these tools, now is not the time to learn. Improper use can lead to
serious injury.

Do not go onto the property of evacuated hospitals

This is a serious risk, and access is restricted for your protection and the safety of others. Unicoi County
Hospital is experiencing a propane leak, which poses a significant danger to anyone on the hospital’s
property.

Questions

For questions, please contact the Ballad Health Corporate Emergency Operations Center at
BalladHealthCorporateEOC@BalladHealth.org