Mold Growth After Flooding
After heavy flooding in Kentucky, a local news channel Lex18 posted this, very informative, article.
Mold can cause a growing problem in the aftermath of floods and pose a health risk if you don’t take care of it.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Kentucky Department of Public Health officials urge Kentuckians to take time and clean thoroughly before returning to flooded homes.
“People are anxious to get on with their lives after a flood, but some problems don’t arise until later that may affect your home or your health,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Doug Mayne, FEMA’s top official in Kentucky for the July flooding disaster recovery.
Microscopic organisms are found everywhere and develop easily into mold in the presence of water or dampness. Mold discoloration comes in a variety of colors from white to orange and from green to brown or black. Whatever color, it characteristically gives off a musty or earthy smell.
Mayne urges residents and owners of flooded properties to take action now and not wait until FEMA inspectors arrive.
“Though mold is almost always present in the air, it grows best in damp areas where humidity levels
are high,” said Guy Delius, director of the public health protection and safety division in the Commonwealth’s Department for Public Health.
“The heavy rains throughout the Commonwealth in July caused flooding in several areas, and many homes experienced water damage. This is a concern for homeowners, not only because of damage to their homes, but because it also could lead to a mold problem if left untreated,” Delius said.
Mold can become a problem in your home when there is enough moisture available to allow mold to thrive and multiply. Dampness in basements, walls, carpets and wood provide an environment for mold to flourish.
There is no practical way to eliminate all mold spores in the indoor environment. But there are many ways to help control moisture and mold growth. The basic rule is to identify any moisture sources if you can see or smell mold and to remove the mold before health problems develop.
The following are suggestions to help control mold:
- The source of mold is moisture; therefore fix all leaks in pipes and in any damp area around tubs and sinks.
- Rebuild, or retrofit, with water-resistant building materials such as tile, stone, deep-sealed concrete, galvanized or stainless steel hardware, indoor/outdoor carpeting, waterproof wallboard and water-resistant glues.
- Prevent seepage of water from outdoors into your house. It is important to have rainwater from gutters or roof drains away from the structure. Ground around the house should slope away to keep basements and crawl spaces dry.
- Cover dirt in crawl spaces with plastic to prevent moisture from coming up from the ground. Ventilate the area as much as possible.
- Clean fabrics such as curtains and upholstery often to keep them dry, because soil promotes mold growth.
- Consider having ductwork cleaned and inspected professionally or replaced if you suspect mold exists on the inside surface of the duct or if duct insulation has been wet.
- Reduce the moisture in the air with dehumidifiers, fans and open windows or air conditioners.
- Do not use fans or vacuum cleaners if mold already exists, especially in hot weather. A fan or vacuum cleaner will spread the mold spores.
- In moisture-prone areas, choose carpets of man-made fibers.
- Reduce potential for condensation on cold surfaces by insulating.
- Routinely check potential problem spots.
Source: http://www.lex18.com/news/mold-can-cause-problems-in-flood-aftermath
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August 4th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
A lot of homeowners try and do it themselves, then after a few days the smell gets worse and then they seek out help. Then the contractor has to still dry the structure and get rid of the smell. Floodtechs – Water Damage Restoration
August 5th, 2010 at 5:20 am
Great info! Homeowners are being discouraged from filing claims by their agents, and deductibles are skyrocketing. This often means the property owner attempts to dry their wet/flooded property themselves and often with terrible results. They don’t realize that unless they use correct moisture testing and measuring tools, as well as proper and complete drying of ALL structural materials, they are going to end up with a serious MOLD issue that is far worse than the original wet building!
August 6th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
Such a well written post.. Thnkx for sharing this post!
August 12th, 2010 at 10:19 am
The one problem I always see is people trying to remove mold themselves.
It can be done, but it’s usually suggested that if it’s greater than one square foot, you should hire a mold specialist to take care of your mold issues.
Also, if the mold is black, you should not try and remove it yourself. Black mold can be very toxic!
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