City issues advisory about playing in contaminated flood waters | Lubbock Online | Lubb...

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City issues advisory about playing in contaminated

flood waters
Posted: July 6, 2010 - 9:23pm

By BY ALYSSA DIZON

AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Four-year-old Trystan Wilkinson splashed his way through the overflowing Maxey Park lake in his inner tube
with his parents close by.
Nearby, Lupe Vargas played in the knee-deep water with his 19-month-old son. His two daughters swam and
blew bubbles in the water beside him. Despite a warning from the city of Lubbock that flood waters could
contain bacteria, chemicals, debris and toxins, his wife said she wasn't worried.
No, Im not concerned about it, said Ashley Almager. It seemed like a lot of people have been out here, and
no ones been hurt.
Like these two families, dozens of children and their families spent the afternoon at the lake that flooded due to
heavy weekend showers.
Even if they didnt have swimwear, the children got their feet wet or dove completely under the lakes surface.
Its not too bad, said Larry Wilkinson. It aint no worse than Buffalo Springs Lake.
He and his wife, Ashlie Steward, joined their children in the water.
Larry said his family went to Maxey Park because it was near their residence, and it was a rare opportunity to
swim in the park.
Dee Dee Ramirez, who lives across the street, said she told her two children not to play in the park because
Dumpsters were completely underwater and a portable toilet was sitting in the water.
She said the city should find a more effective drainage system to prevent children from playing in the
unsanitary water.
The city of Lubbock issued health advisories Monday instructing parents to not permit their children to play in
the flood waters.
Juan Fitz, the assistant medical director of Covenant Health Systems emergency department, said exposure to
flood waters can be dangerous because it is basically runoff.
Common health risks include intestinal problems, hepatitis and infections. Fever and redness may occur if
someone gets a cut or a scratch that gets infected while playing in the water, he said.
Fitz said if an open wound is exposed to the water, it should be washed thoroughly with soap and clean water,
not with alcohol.

http://lubbockonline.com/health/2010-07-05/city-issues-advisory-about-playing-contamina... 8/28/2014

City issues advisory about playing in contaminated flood waters | Lubbock Online | Lubb...

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Although the Maxey Park lake water filled the majority of the park, Jeff McKito, public information officer for
the city, said the citys drainage system was indeed working.
The drainage system worked fine, he said. Theres no system in place that can handle that much water. We
received a large amount of water in a short time.
The weekend rainfall exceeded the 8-inch average typically seen in West Texas.
Larry Hertel, a city engineer, said the citys two major storm water sewer systems are designed to drain
overflowing lakes after the rains stops. There has already been a significant decrease in water levels in a short
period of time for the playa lakes in those systems, he said.
The South Central Storm Sewer System and the South Lubbock Storm Sewer System use sewer pipelines to
drain a chain of lakes and create more water holding capacity for future storms. Hertel explained the excess
water travels through the pipe system and discharges to wastewater treatment plants in East Lubbock and areas
farther east.
Hertel said Maxey Park has a small sewer pipeline for drainage, and the city is in the process of another project
just for that body of water to reduce the chance of flooding.
Aimee Ruel, Maxey Community Center Supervisor, said summer classes will not be cancelled despite the wet
state of the park.

To comment on this story:

alyssa.dizon@lubbockonline.com 766-8795
shelly.gonzales@lubbockonline.com 766-8747

Flood Water Health Precautions

Water may contain:

Chemicals

Bacteria

Toxins

Viruses

Parasites

Dangerous debris

Health Concerns:

Upset stomach

Intestinal problems

Infection

Fight Infection to Open Wounds:

Wash with soap and clean water

See doctor if you experience fever and redness

http://lubbockonline.com/health/2010-07-05/city-issues-advisory-about-playing-contamina... 8/28/2014

City issues advisory about playing in contaminated flood waters | Lubbock Online | Lubb...

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Starbucks Roof Collapse

The Starbucks on 82nd Street and Quaker Avenue was closed indefinitely when the roof collapsed Saturday evening. All the windows and
entrances were boarded up, and caution tape blocked off the parking lot and drive-thru window.
Dean Baker, manager of the Starbucks at Brownfield Highway and Milwaukee Avenue, said the company is waiting on building inspectors
to determine what needs to be done to the flat-roofed structure.
He said the employees of the closed store were relocated to other stores.

Road closures and water on roadways

As for flooded streets in Lubbock, McKito said the flood waters have receded and the Street Department is working to remove the
barricades.
Motorists should still avoid the closed off areas until the barricades are removed, he said.
Other parts of the South Plains are drying up as well, but some closures remain in effect.
In Lynn County, FM 1317 from FM 1730 to U.S. 87 will be closed until noon Tuesday, according to the Texas Department of
Transportation. There is still water on parts of U.S. 380, FM 1313, FM 212, FM 400 and FM 1054.
In Dawson County, U.S. 87 from Lamesa to Tahoka remains closed until 8 a.m. Wednesday. Water on roadways was also reported on FM
1066 and FM 2370.
FM 669 in Garza County is closed until noon Tuesday.
The Garza County Sheriffs Office said Lake Alan Henry reopened, but visitors should look out for floating debris.

TAGS: HEALTH LOCAL NEWS BY ALYSSA DIZON

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