If Hurricane Frances dumps buckets of rain on Tampa Bay, flooding could contaminate drinking water, leave pools laced with bacteria and bring snakes and other dangerous animals out of their normal homes, health officials warned.
Stormwater could contaminate utility wells and seep into drinking water, forcing residents to boil water.
"The overwhelming problem will be with water quality," said John Agwunobi, director of the state Department of Health.
Much of the area affected by Hurricane Charley was under advisories to boil water for days after the storm, and the city of Arcadia remains under notice to do so. But those problems will worsen after the storm passes, Agwunobi said.
"Most of the problems will come once the flooding recedes," he said.
People should have a three-day supply of bottled water at home, said Julia Gill, epidemiology program manager at the Pinellas County Health Department.
Floodwater can be contaminated with bacteria, and children shouldn't play in it. Toys covered in floodwater should be disinfected before children play with them.
If homes are flooded, canned food can be used but labels should be taken off and disinfect the cans before opening.
Gill also had a message for people displaced to crowded shelters: "Use good hygiene and wash your hands," she said. "Those are perfect settings for certain outbreaks to occur."
Animals also are displaced by the storm, and Gill, who spent last week heading up a public health team helping after Charley, said she saw the effects.
"Many people who tried to help animals got bitten," she said.
It's not just dogs and cats, Agwunobi said.
"Snakes and animals and human beings tend to seek shelter in the same places on higher ground, and there sometimes is a documented increase in snake bites," he said.
Standing water can lead to another problem: mosquitoes. That's a special problem because some mosquitoes in the Tampa Bay area carry the West Nile virus, a potentially deadly illness.
Health officials and mosquito-control workers will spray for mosquitoes and test for West Nile after the storm, Gill said. But people also should use repellent, stay inside after dark, wear long sleeves and drain standing water around their home if possible.
Other tips from the health department:
Put antibiotic ointment on open cuts and sores. Keep them covered and away from floodwater.
To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, do not use gas or charcoal grills indoors. Don't use gas-powered generators or pressure washers indoors either. Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause fatigue, chest pains, nausea, headaches and other symptoms. If you suspect you are affected by carbon monoxide, get outside and call 911.
Several cases of heat exhaustion also were reported after Charley, often because people were doing heavy work with no air conditioning. Rest and drink plenty of water while working. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include dizziness, fatigue, heavy sweating and headache.
Pinellas 
