Markell Ends State of Emergency For Sandy

Wilmington – Gov. Jack Markell Wednesday afternoon ended the declared state of emergency for Hurricane Sandy. The state of emergency had remained in effect in Sussex County into Wednesday morning to provide authorization for continued evacuation zones until each area was inspected for safety and cleared by Sussex emergency officials.

Sussex officials reported at 1 p.m. that all evacuation areas had been cleared to open. Shelters in each county at Indian River High School, Dover High School and William Penn High School that had remained open Tuesday night with evacuees in them closed Wednesday morning. Emergency officials from the city of Wilmington and Sussex, New Castle and Kent counties along with the DEMA concurred with ending the emergency.

“Though we were spared the worst of Sandy, we did see significant damage in Delaware, especially in Sussex County and will be working to help those people and areas recover” Gov. Markell said. “I again express my thanks to the thousands of people from federal, state, local, private and non-profit organizations who spent the last few days away from their homes and families preparing for and responding to the storm. Their actions and expertise helped keep Delawareans safe, and I appreciate all Delawareans who heeded the warnings, evacuations and driving restrictions designed to keep them safe.”

Even with the end of the state of emergency period, the Governor provided specific authorization for the Delaware National Guard to continue providing support for storm cleanup and damage assessment operations.

On Wednesday, DelDOT, DNREC and the National Guard engaged in damage cleanup operations. DEMA, FEMA and local emergency staff performed a damage assessment tour, which begins the process of applying for potential federal disaster help.

Homeowners and business owners with property damage should report that damage to their local emergency office (Wilmington, New Castle County, Kent or Sussex).

  • Wilmington: 302-576-CITY
  • New Castle: 302-395-555
  • Kent County: 302-735-3465
  • Sussex County: 302-856-7366

The state of emergency began Saturday night for the purpose of beginning a 24-hour evacuation period of flood-prone areas identified by local officials. On Sunday, it was modified to order closure of businesses in those evacuation areas, then to impose a Level 1 driving warning statewide Sunday afternoon. On Sunday night, it was announced a Level 2 driving restriction statewide would start early Monday morning.

As the storm passed, the Level 2 restriction was eased to the Level 1 warning Tuesday morning while maintaining evacuation zones. Then the Level 1 warning was lifted late Tuesday afternoon and the state of emergency and evacuation zones were ended in New Castle and Kent counties. And now the state of emergency remaining in effect for Sussex evacuation areas ended as well.

Text of the Order terminating the State of Emergency for Hurricane Sandy.


As Storm Cleanup Begins, Biden Reminds Delawareans to Be Aware of Home Improvement Scams

Wilmington – Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden issued a warning to Delawareans today to remain vigilant against scams artists attempting to defraud homeowners in the aftermath of “Superstorm” Sandy. As residents assess damage to their homes and property and begin the clean up process, Biden stressed the importance of awareness in protecting against potential frauds associated with home repair services.

“Although Delaware thankfully fared much better in this storm than many of our neighbors, there are many homes and businesses up and down the state in need of repair,” said Biden.

“Sadly, there are also criminals ready to exploit this natural disaster for their own gain by defrauding those property owners. Knowing what to look out for and where to turn for help can make all the difference for consumers and their families.”

Biden offered the following guidelines to avoid home improvement scams:

  • Make sure a contractor is licensed and bonded.
  • Get references and follow-up on them. Ask your neighbors about a contractor’s reputation, and check them out with the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org).
  • Be wary of door-to-door solicitations.
  • Never pay for work up front. Full payment shouldn’t be made until the job has been completed to your satisfaction.
  • Always obtain a written proposal including a cost estimate; consider obtaining multiple proposals and estimates.
  • Call the Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Hotline to report any suspected wrongdoing: 1-800-220-5424.

Biden asked anyone who suspects they have been scammed or anyone that has received a suspicious communication related to an offer of home improvement services to immediately contact the Attorney General’s toll free consumer protection hotline at 1-800-220-5424 or email the Attorney General’s consumer protection unit directly at consumer.protection@delaware.gov.

Additional state resources can be found through the Governor’s website at http://governor.delaware.gov/information/after_sandy.shtml.


Free Test Kits Available for Private Wells

DELAWARE PUBLIC HEALTH: DRINKING WATER SAFETY

The number one public health priority after a flood is safe drinking water.  Delaware Public Health (DPH) reminds Delawareans to make sure your water is safe before drinking and bathing.  Tips:

If you are on a public water system, check the website of your water provider to make sure your water is safe for drinking and bathing.  Eighty-five percent of Delawareans depend upon a public water system.  Follow any purification instructions on your water provider’s website.

If you are among the fifteen percent of Delawareans on a private well, DPH will provide free drinking water test kits to detect contamination from bacteria.  Test kits will be available at the following sites and must be dropped off at the location at which you picked up the kit once you have a water sample.  If the water is found to be contaminated, Public Health staff’s goal is to contact people within 72 hours to provide guidance on cleaning up your well.  Test kits will be available after state offices reopen, potentially as early as Wednesday.

University Plaza, Chopin Bldg
258 Chapman Road, Newark
302-283-7100

Thomas Collins Building
540 S. DuPont HWY, Dover
302-744-1000

Delaware Public Laboratory
30 Sunnyside Road, Smyrna
302-223-1520

Adams State Service Center
544 S. Bedford Street, Georgetown
302-856-5496

Safety Precautions

If you are advised to boil your drinking water, heat water at the highest possible temperature so that it bubbles constantly (a rolling boil). Continue to boil water for one minute, and then let it cool. Store in clean, covered containers. Residents can also disinfect water using household bleach. Add 1/8 teaspoon (or 8 drops) of regular, unscented, liquid household bleach for each gallon of water. Stir it well and let it stand for 30 minutes before using it. Bottled water is another safe alternative.

Residents with questions about flood recovery can contact the Delaware Division of Public Health’s (DPH) Storm Recovery call center at 866-408-1899.  The call center is open today and was scheduled to be open on 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 31 to Friday, November 2, 2012.  Hours may be subject to change due to call volume and storm conditions.  For updated call center hours, follow Twitter #SandyDe or #StormDE.

Spanish speaking operators will be available.  Individuals seeking TTY services should call 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460.  A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind, or speech-disabled can use a TTY to type his/her conversation to a relay operator, who then reads the typed conversation to a hearing person at the DPH call center. The relay operator relays the hearing person’s spoken words by typing them back to the TTY user.  To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit http://delawarerelay.com

For fact sheets on flood preparedness and recovery, visit the DPH website at: http://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/floodhealthinfo.html.


Post-Storm, Gov. Markell Removes Level 1 Driving Warnings

State of Emergency Lifted For New Castle and Kent Counties, But Remains In Place for Sussex County To Keep Flooded Evacuation Zones Safe

Wilmington, DE – With Hurricane Sandy passed and damage assessment and recovery underway, Governor Jack Markell removed the Level 1 driving warnings across the state as of 5 p.m. Tuesday, though he warned the public to remain cautious of closed and flooded roads in some parts of the state.

After consultation with emergency officials this afternoon, the Governor also modified the current State of Emergency to remove the state of emergency in New Castle and Kent counties, while keeping in place the state of emergency in Sussex County that requires continued evacuation of areas or communities not cleared by Sussex emergency officials. A number of areas in Sussex remain flooded and unsafe to enter, many of which Governor saw Tuesday.

Under the continued Sussex state of emergency and evacuation order, State Police, local police and National Guard personnel manning barricades will continue to restrict access to areas deemed unsafe. Flooded areas along the coast will be subject to the high tide cycle Tuesday night that could make those conditions even worse before waters recede.

Sussex residents who have questions about whether their community has been cleared can contact the Sussex Emergency Operations Center at (302) 856-7366. Local emergency officials in Wilmington, New Castle County and Kent County have lifted evacuation orders for communities in those areas, though residents can call 576-CITY for Wilmington, 395-5555 for New Castle County and 735-3465 for Kent.

Markell expressed his sincere thanks to the first responders, volunteers and critical personnel who worked throughout the storm in operations centers, shelters and especially those out on the state’s highway, communities and coastline to prepare, respond and recover. He also thanked members of the media who helped keep the state’s residents up-to-date throughout the storm.

“When the storm was approaching, people pulled together to get ready. When the storm hit, people pulled together to stay off the roads and out of its way. Delawareans continue to work together to tackle the storm’s aftermath,” Markell said.


DPH: Prevent Injuries and Illness During Sandy Clean Up

Delaware Public Health (DPH) reminds people to be safe, and prevent injuries and illness during Sandy clean up.

Tips:

  • Do not allow children to play in or around storm water collection drains or any flood waters. Drainage areas may have swift currents that can create a drowning hazard. Storm water runoff may be contaminated with sewage, animal feces or chemicals. Sewage can contain the bacteria that causes tetanus, which can infect people through a wound or break in the skin that is exposed to contaminated water.
    • While anyone can become ill, pregnant woman, babies, young children and elderly people are most susceptible to serious disease from flood water, and should be extra cautious.
  • Examine all electrical connections for damage before restoring electricity. Turn off the main gas valve at the meter if you smell leaking gas. Do not turn on lights or use torches or lanterns since they can ignite the gas. Leave the premises immediately and notify the gas company or the fire department if you suspect a leak.
  • Provide plenty of ventilation when using a gas-powered pump for flooded basements or a gas-powered generator for electricity. Fuel-burning devices in closed areas create life threatening carbon monoxide.
  • After completing the cleanup, wash your hands with soap and warm water. If you are unsure about the cleanliness of your water system, use water that has been boiled for 1 minute (allow the water to cool before washing your hands).
    • Or you may use water that has been disinfected for personal hygiene use (solution of ⅛ teaspoon [~0.75 milliliters] of household bleach per 1 gallon of water). Let it stand for 30 minutes. If the water is cloudy, use a solution of ¼ teaspoon (~1.5 milliliters) of household bleach per 1 gallon of water.
  • Wash all clothes worn during the cleanup in hot water and detergent. These clothes should be washed separately from uncontaminated clothes and linens.
  • Wash clothes contaminated with flood or sewage water in hot water and detergent. It is recommended that a laundromat be used for washing large quantities of clothes and linens until your onsite waste-water system has been professionally inspected and serviced.
  • Seek immediate medical attention if you become injured or ill.

Residents with questions about flood recovery can contact the Delaware Division of Public Health’s (DPH) Hurricane Sandy call center at 866-408-1899. The call center is scheduled to be open on Tuesday, October 30 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) to 4:30 p.m., and 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 31 to Friday, November 2, 2012. Hours may be subject to change due to call volume. For updated call center hours, follow Twitter #SandyDe or #StormDE.
Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.