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9-17-2004 |
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West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass has urged citizens to take special precautions against the upcoming remnants of Hurricane Ivan. This advisement came after receiving word from Governor Bob Wise that he would be declaring a statewide State of Emergency beginning September 17 and continuing until the effects of Hurricane Ivan and Tropical Storm Jeanne have passed. Governor Wise also order full activation of the state's Emergency Operations Center and implementation of the Emergency Operations Plan and requested that all state agencies be fully briefed and agency personnel be prepared and available to respond as coordinated by the Office of Emergency Services throughout the weekend period. "Typically, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) gives this type of warning when pastureland and fields of crops have been flooded," said Commissioner Douglass. "However, the recent reports from the National Weather Service indicate that West Virginia may be heavily impacted, threatening to flood businesses, including stores providing farm and garden supplies. The state's livestock industry could also be impacted and precautions should be taken, such as moving your livestock from low-lying areas to higher ground and by checking your fencing after flooding has receded. We want to remind people that it is extremely difficult to adequately clean flood contamination from produce and canned food, and let people know that contaminated garden inputs, such as fertilizer, might contaminate plants as they grow." "Floodwaters can carry dangerous substances, and food, both canned and fresh, could be contaminated if exposed to floodwaters. It is not a good idea to use food-related substances, such as fertilizer or herbicides, on crops if they have been in floodwater," said Commissioner Douglass. Retail stores typically destroy any flood-damaged products rather than meet stringent cleaning requirements, so the danger of buying contaminated food is minimal. Fertilizer and other chemicals may be sold as "flood-damaged." Those products will usually solidify in the bag after exposure to water and should be used on fields not currently in production. When crops are in the fields, the WVDA recommends that any vegetables that are covered by floodwater be carefully evaluated. Discard vegetables that may trap silt, such as broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, etc. Produce with intact skins may be used, but should be washed thoroughly. Any produce with damaged skin or peel should also be discarded. Root crops, such as potatoes and carrots, should be safe if washed thoroughly. In addition to produce, the plants themselves may also be damaged by floodwaters. The WVDA warns farmers and gardeners of this damage. "Exposure to water-logged soils for extended periods of time can cause a variety of injuries to plants, including death. Floodwaters may contain harmful pathogens that can contaminate produce. It is important to follow safety guidelines. Wash all produce and discard damaged material. Be certain also to wash your hands after contact with plant material that you suspect may be contaminated," said Commissioner Douglass. Commissioner Douglass added, "These ideas are simply precautions. The safest thing to do is to keep anything intended for human consumption as far removed from floodwater as possible." For more information on livestock precautions, contact the WVDA's Marketing and Development Division, 304-558-2210 and for food safety precautions, contact the WVDA's Regulatory and Environmental Affairs Division, 304-558-2208.
Contact: Buddy Davidson The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. Currently, Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is the longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org. |
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©2001, 2002 West Virginia Department of Agriculture, All Rights Reserved |
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