“Remember to Re-regard”

they are stamping out rumors that the flood waters
carry plague.
Or that you need to worry about tetanus.
False. Both, don’t worry about that.
Scratch one or two little things
off your list.

The threat of explosion from the chemical plant in Crosby
and of being poisoned by toxic fumes
can also be canceled.

Gators and snakes will retreat to the wilds
if you don’t stand in their way.
Or try to help them.

The EPA Superfund sites, four or so,
are unknowns. They have to be checked.
No alarm bells on those babies.

And I’ve not heard about flesh eating bacteria
flushed out by storms from stagnant waters.
Don’t take your cuts into the water.

Still on the list:
Drowning is the worst, happens most in cars.
Electrocution threat subsides as the grid fails.
Wounds from sunken hazards, and infection
from open wounds: see flesh eating bacteria above.
Ditto for animal and insect bites.

Also:
Chemical burns, poisonings, fumes and of course
avoid oil spills and other possible flammables.
Diarrheal diseases: don’t eat or drink
anything contaminated, ie, touched by waters.
See panic.gov for a complete list including
but not limited to; Giardiasis, Norovirus,
Legionnaire’s disease and trench foot.

In the event of wound or bite, disregard
false status of tetanus rumor as stated above.

Mark Kessinger was born in Huntington WV, and grew up in Lorain, Ohio.  He attended college at Cleveland State University, on a creative writing scholarship, publishing two collections through the CSU Poetry Center: The Exploded View, and The Book of Joe.  Both volumes are available on Kindle.  Mark lived briefly in Oklahoma City before settling in the Houston TX area.  He has led several workshops in writing, and edited a chapbook series titled Voices from Big Thicket.  A founding member of the Houston Council of Writers, Mark has also appeared at the Houston Poetry Fest.  He has numerous works published in a variety of small press magazines, and has appeared in three major anthologies: Cleveland Voices, Both Sides Now, and Inheritance of Light.