Hey, I’m a hydrologist specializing in infectious diseases and I’m here to tell you — DO NOT TOUCH FLOODWATER.
https://twitter.com/phil_lewis_/status/1413252521372626951
Most city storm water systems in the United States (including NYC) operate on a “combined sewer” system. This means that storm water from the streets goes into the same pipe as sewage water. Okay, no big deal, right?
Sure. Except when it floods.
Sure. Except when it floods.
If water reaches a certain level these flows will back up and combine. Meaning, sewage will mix with storm water and floodwater is a combination of these.
In more rural areas or areas with less well maintained plumbing or sewer systems, this problem is even worse.
In more rural areas or areas with less well maintained plumbing or sewer systems, this problem is even worse.
In fact, death and disease from sanitation concerns AFTER a flood are often deadlier than the flood itself.
Floodwater is incredibly dangerous. Avoid it if you are at all able to.
As climate change increases flooding events, this knowledge will only become more critical.
Floodwater is incredibly dangerous. Avoid it if you are at all able to.
As climate change increases flooding events, this knowledge will only become more critical.
Floodwater is also often not clear, making it extremely difficult to accurately gauge depth or flow of the water. Currents are very strong and many flood victims drown bc they assume that what looks like only a foot or so of floodwater is safe to walk through. DO NOT TOUCH.
A lot of people are (rightfully) pointing out that often people have limited options in cases like these. I want to say that the point of this thread is to say that for these reasons it is ALMOST ALWAYS SAFER to stay put and WAIT than to try to walk through floodwater to “safety”
The majority of people who die in situations like this do so because they underestimate the threat and think they can go through floodwater to get to “safety”.
Floodwater is a LETHAL threat, not an inconvenience.
No job or appointment should be important enough to die for.
Floodwater is a LETHAL threat, not an inconvenience.
No job or appointment should be important enough to die for.
Also, since this thread is blowing up, if you appreciate my work here, my partner and I just got top surgery and have a bunch of medical debt!
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