Burlington County Issues Health Advisory For Flood Victims

Burlington County officials issued a health advisory for flood victims as a Flood Warning remained in effect around the Rancocas Creek after two rounds of heavy rain struck the region on Wednesday and Thursday. As of 10:30 a.m., the north branch of the Rancocas Creek in Pemberton was at 3.9 feet and moderate flooding was taking place, according to the National Weather Service.

Moderate flooding continued to be in the forecast, as the river was expected to drop to 3.5 feet by Saturday morning. Flood stage is 2.5 feet. Homes in the area are expected to continue to take on water, and some may be evacuated.

The Burlington County Health Department has three recommendations for the public to help ensure their safety:

Boil water if your well was under water: The Burlington County Health Department is recommending that well owners, whose wells were impacted by flood water, boil their water before use. The water should be brought to a full ROLLING boil for at least 5 minutes. Water from a well that has been submerged in flood water should be assumed to be contaminated. Do not use the well water for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or even personal washing until you are satisfied that the water is not contaminated. Once the water has receded, the well will need to be disinfected by a certified well driller. Once the well has been treated it will need to be tested to ensure that it is safe to drink. More information is available at https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/wellsdisinfect.html. Finally, all county residents should avoid lakes and other recreational bathing areas that were flooded (do not swim in flood waters or flooded areas) until the water at these sites can be tested to ensure that they are safe for you to swim in.

Remember food safety tips if your power was out: The Burlington County Health Department is also providing some tips on food safety. If your refrigerator or freezer may be without power for a long period keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature. The refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about 24 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed. To be safe, remember, "When in doubt, throw it out." Discard any food that has been at room temperature for two hours or more, and any food that has an unusual odor, color, or texture.

Follow safety guidelines when cleaning flooded areas: Discard all food affected by flood waters including canned goods. It is impossible to know if containers were damaged and the seal compromised. Discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples, and pacifiers. There is no way to safely clean such flood-contaminated items. Thoroughly wash metal pans, ceramic dishes, and utensils with hot soapy water and sanitize by boiling them in clean water or by immersing them for 15 minutes in a solution of 1 teaspoon of chlorine bleach per quart of water. For more information on safe food handling after a flood please visit https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/foodwater/facts.html.

When cleaning up an area affected by flood waters, wash your hands and face often with drinking quality water. Be sure to wear appropriate clothing, foot wear and equipment (i.e. goggles, masks and gloves) when cleaning. Finally, if you are injured during the cleanup process be sure to clean the wound and talk to your provider about getting a tetanus shot.

Further information can be found on the Health Department's website: www.co.burlington.nj.us/health. For additional questions on the above topics please call the Burlington County Health Department at 609-265-5548.

The Burlington County Office of Emergency Management and Communities Active in Disaster (COAD) in conjunction with the Red Cross will have two distribution sites for cleanup kits on Saturday for Burlington County residents impacted by the flood waters.

The kits are free of charge to residents. The distribution will take place Saturday, June 22, noon to 6 p.m. One site will be at the Burlington County Highway facility located at 624 Pemberton Browns Mills Road, Pemberton, NJ 08068. The second site is at the Burlington County Public Safety Center located at 1 Academy Drive, Westampton, NJ 08060.

Additionally, case workers with the American Red Cross will be available to meet with those affected who are in need of emergency assistance at the following locations. Clean-up kits and other relief supplies will also be available.

Saturday, June 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

American Red Cross – Sewell office, 3 Parke Place Blvd., Sewell, NJ

American Red Cross – Pennsauken office, 5425 Route 70 West, Pennsauken, NJ

Sunday, June 23 from 8:00 a.m. to Noon

Westville Public Library, 1035 Broadway, Westville, NJ

An example of the supplies that may be in the cleanup kit include:

• Mop
• Bucket
• Bleach
• Brushes
• Masks
• Sponges
• Broom
• Squeegee
• Gloves

Gov. Phil Murphy declared a State of Emergency for Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties Thursday afternoon. Read more here: NJ Gov. Phil Murphy Declares State of Emergency In South Jersey

Westville and National Park in Gloucester County were hit hard by storms, and a former marine in Haddonfield appears to have lost his Camden County home.

Anthony Luciotti told 6 ABC the basement wall of his Concord Drive home crumbled, and his home has been condemned for fear the foundation may totally crumble. He said he was close to retirement.

All lanes on Route 44 between CR 656/Paradise Road and CR 643/Grove Avenue in West Deptford were closed Friday morning, according to 511nj.org.

Westville has recovered from the flooding, according to Department of Public Works Director Donna Domico. She provided images from Thursday’s flooding, which can be seen below.

Friday marked the first day of summer. Despite some early morning showers, the National Weather Service was calling for the rest of the weekend to be clear and sunny. The forecast for the weekend can be seen below.

Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 81. Northwest wind 10 to 13 mph.

Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 60. Northwest wind 3 to 8 mph.

Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 84. West wind 5 to 7 mph.

Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.