Citizens Warned About Storm Runoff Dangers

The Santa Barbara County Environmental Health Services Division is advising citizens to avoid contact with storm runoff likely to follow tomorrow’s predicted rain, as such water may cause rashes, fever, chills, ear infections, vomiting and diarrhea. To be safe, avoid any bodies of water that may receive storm runoff for the next three days. These include creeks and the ocean. The advisory also notes that sports harvesters should wait a full ten days before eating any shellfish, as these animals can retain high bacterial and chemical contents that even cooking cannot eliminate.