Cool, moist conditions lead to an abundance of molds and toxins that affect air quality with implications for respiratory health in homes, fields, and livestock facilities. The wet, muddy environment exaggerates the risk of slips and falls, and adds to tractor and machinery instability. Flood-damaged electrical equipment, buildings, and machinery increase electrocution hazards, structure instability, and equipment malfunction. Flood waters contaminate the buildings, fields, and wells they cover with agricultural chemicals, raw sewage, and many other substances. To make it worse, the tremendous stress of fighting weather, economic pressures, and the unknown encourages injury, poor health, and suicide among farmers.
Numerous resources exist that can and do address problems resulting from flooding.
However, the assistance offered comes from a confusing array of agencies with differing qualification requirements. Agricultural safety and health needs have not been stressed, and have often been forgotten in the flood relief effort.