Returning home. How to return home safely after an evacuation. After a prolonged power failure. General instructions

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1 Returning home 1 How to return home safely after an evacuation If authorized by the authorities and your safety is not in danger, you may return home. Before doing so, though, read the safety instructions in this document, which are presented according to the type of disaster and the actions you want to take. General instructions Return home by day, when problems and dangers are easier to see. Take pictures to document the damage to your home. At any time, it is possible to ask for help from a professional health and social services by contacting the Info-Santé and Info-Social Service at After a prolonged power failure I want to use my electrical appliances. Restore power to the house through the distribution panel. Before gradually turning on all the electrical appliances, wait for the temperature and humidity to return to normal.

2 2 I want to heat my home and avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Do not heat your home temporarily using a gas-fuelled appliance, such as a range, backup heating system, camping heater or barbecue. These appliances can produce carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas that is invisible and odourless. It can cause irreversible damage or death. Only a carbon monoxide detector can alert you to the presence of this gas. If you plan on using a combustion device, such as a pump or high pressure washer, make sure you use a batterypowered carbon monoxide detector, because these can also produce carbon monoxide. If you use a generator, install it: outside your house or garage, whether the garage is an integral part of the house or not; as far away as possible from the doors and windows. I want to eat the food left in my refrigerator. Following a power outage for more than six hours, carefully sort the food left in the refrigerator in order to avoid food poisoning. Unless there are signs of deterioration, the following foodstuffs can be kept: whole fresh fruits and vegetables; pasteurized fruit juice; fruit pies, cakes, muffins, cookies; blocks of firm cheese, processed cheese or cheese slices; butter, margarine; jams, jellies, marmalade, sweet spreads, peanut butter; mustard, ketchup, commercial and home-made salad dressings, BBQ sauces, taco sauces, olives, pickles. I want to take medication that was left in the refrigerator. Do not take medication that was in the refrigerator; return it to the drugstore to be destroyed. If they do not look normal, discard them immediately. Discard all other food, even it looks normal to you.

3 3 I want to eat the food left in my freezer. Thawed food cannot be frozen again. All food that thawed during the power outage must be discarded, whatever it looks like. Generally speaking, a freezer in good condition that is filled to capacity can keep food frozen for 48 hours. A freezer that is half full can keep food frozen for about 24 hours. For further information on sorting the food, contact the Direction générale de la santé animale et de l inspection des aliments by calling , or by at dgsaia@mapaq.gouv.qc.ca, or consult the website of the ministère de l Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l Alimentation. I want to thaw out my pipes in winter. If your pipes are frozen, call on a specialized firm that has the know-how and tools required to thaw them out appropriately. Visit the website of the Corporation des maîtres mécaniciens en tuyauterie du Québec to find out about the rules governing this specialty and consult the directory of its members. After a flood I want to drink the water. If your home water is obtained from a waterworks, it is drinkable, i.e. it is fit for consumption, unless the municipal authorities in charge of the waterworks inform you otherwise. You can drink it or use it to prepare meals or brush your teeth, for example. In case of uncertainty as to the colour, odour or taste of your water, contact the municipal authorities before using it. If your home water is obtained from a private well, the water must be considered undrinkable, even if it looks clear and odourless. Until you know that your well water is up to standards, bring the water to a rolling boil for one minute before consuming it, or use bottled water.

4 4 I want to disinfect my well. Wait at least ten days after the flood water has completely receded before disinfecting your well and having your water tested. Clean your well as follows: Remove foreign objects and deposits with a dipper. Pour bleach into the well, ensuring that you thoroughly mix it with the well water. To help you mix, you can connect a hose to the nearest tap and hose down the well casing. The quantity of bleach required depends on the type of well, its diameter and its depth. To find out the quantity needed to disinfect the well, use the tables prepared by the ministère du Développement durable, de l Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, which are available at: index-en.htm. Brush the well casing to clean it. Open all the taps in your home. When you can smell chlorine at each tap where water is running, close the taps and keep them closed for 24 hours. After 24 hours, empty your well by opening the taps and letting the water run until the smell of bleach disappears. I want to have my well water tested. One week after disinfecting your well, have an accredited laboratory test the water for bacteria. The results will determine whether your well water meets the standards set out in the Regulation respecting the quality of drinking water. Testing must show that the water is not contaminated. Only then can the well water be considered drinkable again. To find the nearest accredited laboratory, consult the website of the Centre d expertise en analyses environnementales du Québec, at As a precaution, have another test carried out four weeks after the disinfection. If the results do not meet the standards, have the well inspected by an expert. Until you know that your well water is up to standards, bring the water to a rolling boil for one minute before consuming it, or use bottled water. For more information on the standards of quality for drinking water, contact the ministère du Développement durable, de l Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques by telephone at or by at info@mddelcc.gouv.qc.ca.

5 5 I want to clean my home. Within 24 to 48 hours after a flood or as soon as you return home after an evacuation, you must clean, disinfect and dry all objects and surfaces that were damaged by water, in particular to avoid the growth of mould. For effective and safe cleaning, make sure that you take the following steps in order: 1) Wear the necessary protection equipment (mask, rubber gloves and boots, protective clothing and glasses) so that water and soiled materials do not come in contact with the skin, eyes or mouth; 2) Open the windows and doors to air out the rooms and lower the humidity to less than 50%; 3) Surfaces and objects that may have been in contact with soiled water should be washed with ammonia-free soap and clean hot water. Rinse with clean water. While cleaning, make sure that you: Discard all porous materials (carpets, insulation, gypsum plasterboard, etc.) that are damp or that were in contact with flood water. Also discard any objects that cannot be adequately cleaned or whose stuffing was soaked (mattresses, pillows, cushions, stuffed toys, etc.) in order to prevent mould from developing or to prevent exposure to certain microorganisms; Open the walls and remove drywall, panelling and insulation to at least 50 centimetres (20 inches) above the high-water line. Wait for everything to dry before repairing; Discard all appliances with filters or insulation if they were in contact with water (refrigerator, freezer, water heater, dishwasher, etc.). Discard food that was in contact with flood water. Discard any damaged, open or bulging food tins; Discard medication, cosmetics and other toiletries that may have been in contact with flood water; Discard wooden cutting boards, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers that may have been in contact with flood water. During the cleanup, change your clothing every day and wash it separately from other clothes. 4) Disinfect surfaces and objects that may have been in contact with soiled water. Do this with a mixture of water and bleach. Depending on the surfaces to disinfect, mix the recommended quantity of bleach and water. Consult the following table for the required quantity of bleach at 5% or 6% concentration. Recommendations for disinfection with 5% or 6% bleach Type of surfaces and objects to clean Quantity of bleach Quantity of water Surfaces and objects that come into contact with food (for example, counter, plates, etc.); Surfaces and objects that do not absorb water (for example, floors, ovens, sinks, certain toys, tools, undamaged food tins, etc.) 1 teaspoon (5 ml) 4 litres (1 gallon) 3 tablespoons (45 ml) 4 litres (1 gallon) Never mix bleach with ammonia or other detergents. 5) Allow washed and disinfected surfaces and objects to air dry.

6 6 I note the presence of mould and want to eliminate it. Mould may develop after flooding. A large amount of mould may generate airborne breathable spores and compounds that can create health problems. Be on the lookout for musty, earthy or alcohol-like odours, as well as the appearance of greenish/blackish stains on walls or ceilings, or in cupboards; Discard porous materials that may contain mould; On small, easily washable surfaces, remove mould using a domestic bleach-free cleaning product, following the manufacturer's instructions. Dry the surface thoroughly; For more extensive cleaning, call on the services of a specialized contractor. For more information, consult the website of the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux at If you develop any health problems, see a physician without delay. I want to use my electrical appliances or turn the heating back on. Have specialists check your home s electrical system and heating appliances before turning them on again. Specialists will be able to detect water damage and prevent potential danger. If the electrical system is damaged, use auxiliary heaters in accordance with the manufacturers instructions until repairs are completed. I want to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. If you use a combustion appliance such as a pump, a high pressure washer or an auxiliary heater, which can give off carbon monoxide, make sure you use a battery-powered carbon monoxide detector. To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, observe the rules governing the use, maintenance and safety of your combustion appliances: Run them outside, as far away from doors and windows as possible; Never run your appliances in a closed space, even one with an open door; Never block the air intakes or outlets of your appliances; Never use a gas-powered range or heater for heating.

7 7 If your carbon monoxide detector sounds the alarm, and you have symptoms such as headache, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, dizziness or weakness, you must act quickly: Go outside; Call 911 or the Centre antipoison du Québec at Do not return inside without permission from a firefighter, even for a few minutes. If your detector sounds the alarm, and you do not have any symptoms, act as follows: Open the doors and windows; Turn off the fuel supply of your combustion appliances (for example, disconnect any propane, gas or gasoline tank); Go outside; Call 911. Do not return inside without permission from a firefighter, even for a few minutes. For more information on carbon monoxide poisoning, consult the Portail santé mieux-être of the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, at I want to clean my yard. Take the following precautions when cleaning your yard: If you notice a downed power line, call Hydro-Québec at Never touch downed power lines or electrical installations; Carefully remove all debris from your yard; Do not reuse sand from sandbags or dikes to fill a sandbox, for example. Contact your municipality to find out how to get rid of it. I want to eat the fruits and vegetables from my garden. If your garden was flooded, discard all above-ground fruits and vegetables, such as strawberries and lettuce. Carefully clean any vegetables grown underground, such as potatoes and carrots.

8 8 I want to dispose of a dead animal. You may dispose of a dead animal as follows: Pick the animal up using a shovel or towel; Put it in a durable plastic bag and close the bag tightly before putting it in a second plastic bag, which you must also tightly close; Put the bag in a trash can that will be emptied during regular garbage collection; Clean the items you used to handle the animal and wash your hands with warm water and soap; Contact your municipality if you find the remains of an animal too big to be put in a plastic bag. After major exposure to smoke I want to eliminate smoke and soot from my home. Wear gloves to be safe, and eliminate smoke and soot using soap and water. Thoroughly clean children s toys, as well as items frequently touched. Using a broom or vacuum cleaner is not recommended, since they displace dust rather than remove it. I want to rid my home of unpleasant odours. Properly air out the rooms for several hours. If odours persist, contact your municipality. I want to clean clothing or other textiles that give off an odour. Wash clothing as you do normally. Consult a clothing and textile cleaning specialist to clean fabric items, such as stuffed toys, that are very soiled or that give off strong odours. I want to eat the fruits and vegetables from my garden. Discard all fruits and vegetables that show signs of alteration or that smell of smoke. Before eating fruits and vegetables with soot or dust particles on them: Clean the fruits and vegetables and rinse them with drinking water; If possible, peel the food; Remove the outside leaves of lettuce.

9 9 After any disaster I want to replace damaged documents (health insurance card, driver s licence, birth certificate, etc.). To replace cards, permits, licences or certificates issued by government departments and agencies, call Services Québec at , area code 418 in the Québec area, 514 in the Montréal area, or preceded by for toll free calls, or go to a Services Québec office, where a clerk will help you. You may also consult the electronic cards, permits and certificates guide, which is available through the Québec portal, Services Québec - Citizens website. To find out about everything you should do before, during and after a disaster, consult the Urgence Québec government website. Urgence Produced by: Bureau de l information d urgence August 2014 Sources: Hydro-Québec Ministère de l Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l Alimentation Ministère du Développement durable, de l Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux Ministère de la Sécurité publique Régie du bâtiment du Québec