After a flood: Inspect Buildings and Look for Fire Hazards

After a flood: Inspect Buildings and Look for Fire Hazards

Author: Karen Cox and Dan Lima April 4, 2024 Duration: 1:04

Once an area has been cleared for you to return, stay out of any buildings where flood waters remain. Avoid using candles or open flames.  Instead use battery-powered lanterns or flashlights to reduce fire hazards.  Before entering, examine walls, floors, doors, windows, and staircases to see if the building has shifted.  Inspect foundations for cracks and other damage.  These are indicators that the building may no longer be safe. 

Once you have determined the structure is sound, look for fire hazards.  Broken or leaking gas lines, flooded electrical circuits, or submerged gas or electric appliances can all cause fire hazards.  Flammable materials such as gasoline can travel on floodwaters and explosive gases can collect in confined areas.

If you hear any blowing or hissing noises, immediately leave the building and call 911. 

Learn more at your local extension office, or online at https://extension.wvu.edu/community-business-safety/disaster-preparedness/flooding and stay safe.


For anyone with dirt under their nails or a curiosity about where their food comes from, Extension Calling: advice for the farm, garden, and home is a practical companion. Hosts Karen Cox and Dan Lima channel the deep, research-backed knowledge of their Extension work into conversations that feel like getting trusted advice from a neighbor who really knows their stuff. This podcast translates university-level science into actionable steps for your backyard plot, small farm, or kitchen table. Each episode is a compact, under-thirty-minute session designed to fit into a busy day, offering clarity on everything from soil health and plant selection to food preservation and sustainable practices. You'll hear straightforward explanations and thoughtful discussions that cut through the noise of gardening trends and agricultural jargon. It’s for the lifelong learner, the new homesteader, or anyone wanting to make more informed choices about their food and land. Tune in for these digestible mini-trainings that empower you to cultivate not just plants, but a deeper understanding of the entire system that feeds us.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Extension Calling: advice for the farm, garden, and home
Podcast Episodes
Perennial Weeds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:44
Controlling perennial weeds takes a different perspective than controlling annual weeds. They are often harder to completely remove due to their large root systems. Patience is key here.
Controlling Annual Weeds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:35
The sheer variety of weeds makes them difficult to control. Some are annual, some biennial, some perennial. Each type requires different management. Annuals are often controlled using pre-emergent herbicides, but when do…
Long term plants need long term planning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:53
Woody ornamentals include trees, shrubs, and even some vines and ground covers. With the long life expectancy of woody plants it is important to think of the bigger long term picture before you put it in the ground. Thin…
Winter Woodys [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:59
Woody plants took a hard hit this past winter. Warmer temperatures mixed with sudden freezes overcame many of our shrubs natural protections. Often, once one stressor occurs, a series of followup stressors come visiting…
Pawpaws or your state's banana [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:12
Pawpaws are a unique tropical fruit that grows in northern climates. It is often referred to as the "insert your state here" banana. Tune in to a recap of lessons learned in the 2023 Ohio Pawpaw Conference including tips…
Growing Grass [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:16
A blast from the past about growing grass. Check out this show, originally aired in 2016, where we talk about how to get and maintain a healthy lawn. Hint: it has more to do with what you can't see than what you can see!…
Sweet Sweet Strawberries [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:36
Strawberries are one of the first fruits and a great seller at Farmer's Markets. Today, we talk about varieties, planting techniques, and pest control. Whether you're a farmer or a home gardener, if you like strawberries…
Why Farmer's Markets are a Big Deal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:39
Farmers work hard to create food from seed and soil. It's important we support our local food system so we can keep them around! Shopping at a local farmer's market does more than just support the farmer however, there a…
Produce Safety Plan Templates Give Suggestions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:58
Sometimes it can be overwhelming to write out how to do something in detail. That is why there are many many templates to help you develop a farm food safety plan that is right for your farm. Remember, it is important yo…
When is Agricultural water safe to drink? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:39
When growing produce there are really two types of water, preharvest and harvest/post-harvest. For any applications during and after harvest, the water must be potable. In other words, you should be able to drink it! Bef…