When cleaning up the flood damage, helpers should absolutely wear water-repellent protective clothing and gloves.
The remaining mud is often contaminated with pathogens, said Hagen, which was affected by the flood, on Friday.
In the North Rhine-Westphalian city, gastrointestinal diseases and wound infections have already occurred in connection with the cleaning work.
The city advised that hands should be washed thoroughly before contact with food and before smoking. Food that has come into contact with the muddy water should no longer be consumed. This also applies to vegetables grown in the garden that were flooded. Smaller injuries would have to be disinfected, and larger and deeper wounds should be consulted by a doctor. Rescuers should check their tetanus protection and refresh if necessary. In social networks, helpers repeatedly warn of the risk of epidemics from standing water.
Meanwhile, the German Red Cross (DRK) has called for a massive expansion of national material reserves for operations in destroyed crisis areas. The accommodation and first aid of the people brought to safety from the flood area had reached capacity limits in some places, said DRK President Gerda Hasselfeldt on Friday during a visit to the flood area in Euskirchen in North Rhine-Westphalia. Germany needs a larger supply of emergency power generators, water treatment systems, tents, beds and blankets to quickly supply and accommodate many people. The federal government approved the construction of two central warehouses last year. These are currently helpful. “We need ten of them,” added Hasselfeldt.
Extreme rainfalls had caused devastating floods on rivers in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia and destroyed many communities with their infrastructure. Since last week, thousands of helpers from rescue and aid organizations as well as authorities have been on duty to take care of the people. The Red Cross and the Technical Relief Organization (THW) operate, among other things, treatment plants for drinking water and set up an improvised emergency power supply.