6. Spoiled food

Don't forget about food safety, especially if your food wasn't properly refrigerated or was exposed to floodwaters. Throw away any food or drinks touched by sewage water, including packaged foods, because they can't be appropriately disinfected - a screw-top on drinks where your mouth will make contact, for example.

7. Exacerbation of health conditions

Mell says exacerbation of chronic health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure is extremely likely in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. People don't have access to their prescriptions, don't know how to get to their pharmacies or how to get in touch with their doctors so they don't take the needed drugs, he says. "Daily meds are still important, not something that can be skipped because it's convenient."