This week, Hurricane Laura brought a Category 4 storm across Louisiana near the Texas border. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Health Alert Network advisory regarding carbon monoxide poisoning after the tropical storm.
The hurricane started with winds at 40 miles per hour, which increased to 150 mph after five hours. The US Coast Guard also reported flooding along the coast in Cameron.
Hurricane Laura damaged several houses, street lights, trees, and a lot of other structural damage from its strong winds. Laura also damaged water service and more than 800,000 people are without power.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
The CDC said that carbon monoxide poisoning can be dangerous people will most likely turn to alternate power sources such as gasoline generators and may use propane or charcoal grills for cooking, especially with the power lines down. However, if placed or used improperly, said the CDC, carbon monoxide buildup can be lethal for people and animals.
Carbon monoxide is harmful gas without odor or color that is a product of burning alternative fuels such as charcoal, gas, or wood. Symptoms of CO poisoning include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, and chest pain. At extremely high levels, CO poisoning could lead to death as well.
The CDC's health advisory said that 'appropriate and prompt diagnostic testing and treatment are crucial' to avoid death and poisoning from carbon monoxide. Sources of the harmful gas should be identified and mitigated as well to prevent other cases.
The agency also said that physicians should check patients if they have inhaled smoke, are intoxicated, have a medical illness, or trauma. These cases should then be reported to local authorities such as the fire department or emergency medical services to help prevent further cases of CO poisoning.
Read Also: How the Heavy Rains of Hurricane Maria Shattered the Forests of Puerto Rico
Lake Charles & Texas
A hurricane, a tropical depression, and possible CO poisoning were not the only problems that the community of Lake Charles faced. One of the chemical plants, a BioLab facility, in the city was dealing with a fire caused by a chlorine leak. The company reported that all employees were safe after they followed protocols.
Local authorities reported at least six deaths with a 14-year-old girl being the youngest so far. Four of the deaths happened after trees fell.
Although many people have been safely moved to shelters in Louisiana and Texas, they are worried about not being physically distant at this time. Eric Daw, who went to a shelter in Texas said that they are being told to be socially distant, which seemed impossible inside a shelter.
In Texas, they experienced strong winds and lost power in some areas but did not have any catastrophic damages or deaths, shared local police.
Currently, Arkansas and Kentucky are getting ready as Hurricane Laura is northbound. The National Hurricane Center wrote, 'This rainfall will continue to cause widespread flash and urban flooding, small streams and creeks to overflow their banks, and minor to moderate freshwater river flooding.'
Check out more news and information on Hurricanes on Science Times.
