While the focus during floods tends to be on protecting property, it’s important to remember that flood water can put your health at risk, too. Flood water mixes with everything it touches, including raw sewage, animal waste, pesticides, and other chemicals. You should assume that flood water is a swirling cocktail of bacteria and other disease-carrying germs that can cause intestinal problems, headaches, flu symptoms, and skin infections. Even when the water subsides, clean-up can be risky. These fact sheets might help:

• Managing Your Septic System During/Following a Flood
• Your Well: What to Do after the Flood
• During and After Flooding: What's Safe to Eat

Suicide-prevention activists are challenging county businesses and organizations to breach the “military/civilian divide” by participating in a new cultural awareness campaign starting on Memorial Day. The Military Strong Campaign is a collaboration of the Lewis and Clark Suicide Coalition and a local “Mayor’s Challenge” group working to reduce suicides among service members, veterans, and their families. The campaign involves cultural competency training and social media challenges. Learn more about Military Strong.

Healthy Together, a community partnership to improve health, has released its 2019-2022 Community Health Improvement Plan for Lewis and Clark County. The group selected 3 priority areas on which to focus energy and resources: behavioral health (defined as mental health and substance abuse), early childhood, and access and referrals to services. Learn more about how the community plans to tackle these priorities.

Helena Valley residents who are worried about flooding can now check groundwater levels in parts of the valley using an interactive, online map developed by the Lewis and Clark County Water Quality Protection District. The map website also gives people a way to report flooding incidents, and it contains links to other flood-related resources.

The health department is preparing for the likely chance that measles will make its way to Lewis and Clark County in the near future. Recent outbreaks of the highly contagious and serious disease in Washington State are only a day's drive or short flight away. We urge residents to take steps now to protect themselves, their children, and their community. Vaccination is the first, best step. Find out what you can do to stop measles.

Healthy Together, a community partnership to improve health, has released its 2018 Community Health Report for Lewis and Clark County. How healthy are we? Where do we need improvement? What do community members think are our top health concerns? You can find out here.