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2021 Multijurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Displacement and Shelter Needs Flood impacts on persons and households were estimated for each event through the Level 2 Hazus analysis. Table 11-10 summarizes the results. Table 11-10. Estimated Flood Impacts on Persons and Households Number of Displaced Households Number of Community members Requiring Short-Term Shelter 1% Annual Chance Flood Zone 17,146 1,158 0.2% Annual Chance Flood Zone 51,178 3,740 Hazus estimated that a FEMA 100-year flood could displace up to 1,965 people, with 75 of those people needing short-term shelter. For a Hazus-generated 500-year flood, it is estimated that up to 6,264 people could be displaced, with 290 needing short-term shelter. Public Health and Safety Floods and their aftermath present the following threats to public health and safety:  Unsafe food—Floodwaters contain disease-causing bacteria, dirt, oil, human and animal waste, and farm and industrial chemicals. Their contact with food items, including food crops in agricultural lands, can make that food unsafe to eat. Refrigerated and frozen foods are affected during power outages caused by flooding. Foods in cardboard, plastic bags, jars, bottles, and paper packaging may be unhygienic with mold contamination.  Contaminated drinking and washing water and poor sanitation—Flooding impairs clean water sources with pollutants. The pollutants also saturate into the groundwater. Flooded wastewater treatment plants can be overloaded, resulting in backflows of raw sewage. Private wells can be contaminated by floodwaters. Private sewage disposal systems can become a cause of infection if they or overflow.  Mosquitoes and animals—Floods provide new breeding grounds for mosquitoes in wet areas and stagnant pools. The public should dispose of dead animals that can carry viruses and diseases only in accordance with guidelines issued by local animal control authorities. Leptospirosis—a bacterial disease associated predominantly with rats—often accompanies floods in developing countries, although the risk is low in industrialized regions unless cuts or wounds have direct contact with disease-contaminated floodwaters or animals.  Mold and mildew—Excessive exposure to mold and mildew can cause flood victims—especially those with allergies and asthma—to contract upper respiratory diseases, triggering cold-like symptoms. Molds grow in as short a period as 24 to 48 hours in wet and damp areas of buildings and homes that have not been cleaned after flooding, such as water-infiltrated walls, floors, carpets, toilets and bathrooms. Very small mold spores can be easily inhaled by human bodies and, in large enough quantities, cause allergic reactions, asthma episodes, and other respiratory problems. Infants, children, elderly people and pregnant women are considered most vulnerable to mold-induced health problems.  Carbon monoxide poisoning—In the event of power outages following floods, some people use alternative fuels for heating or cooking in enclosed or partly enclosed spaces, such as small gasoline engines, stoves, generators, lanterns, gas ranges, charcoal or wood. Built-up carbon monoxide from these sources can poison people and animals.  Hazards when reentering and cleaning flooded homes and buildings—Flooded buildings can pose significant health hazards to people entering them. Electrical power systems can become hazardous. Gas 11-24