Flooding and Health

Flooding in Wisconsin is expected to become more frequent as intense downpours, and warmer water temperatures become more frequent. Flooding can damage homes, create hazardous driving conditions, power disruptions, injuries and fatalities. 

The human health harms of flooding can be both immediate and long term. Some of the potential immediate risks include:

• Drowning
• Electrocution
• Hypothermia
• Lack of access to medical records, prescription drugs, or medical equipment
• Contact with sewage-related pathogens 
• Contact with water borne vectors like mosquitoes. 

​Long term, flooding can harm our health through:

• Mold induced asthma
• Injuries while making repairs to flood damage
• Spread of communicable diseases in shelter
• Psychological effects; mental health and post-traumatic stress 
• Financial burden of recovery
• Contaminated well water

Stay Safe
There is a lot we can do to stay safe from flooding. If possible, communities can use native vegetation and green spaces to improve flood resilience. They can also install permeable surfaces and enhanced stormwater drainage systems. Installing a basement pump (or sump pump) can reduce chances a home will be damaged by flood water. Visit the CDC Flood Safety page for ideas on how to make a plan to prepare for flooding and how to stay safe after a flood impacts your home or workspace.

To get started taking action, review the toolkit.