When a hurricane or other natural disaster strikes, whole cities can become flooded, creating the potential for a toxic mold problem of epic proportions.
Toxic Mold After Flooding
Flooding, whether it’s caused by a gradually rising river or by a hurricane storm surge, poses the greatest danger of toxic mold development. Wet surfaces invite mold growth, and thoroughly saturated wood building framing can take a long time to dry out, especially if the rain continues to fall or the water continues to rise.
The first priority after a flood should be to dry out the living spaces as quickly and completely as possible, preferably within the first 24 to 48 hours after the water recedes.
- Set up fans, open windows and doors, and increase circulation as much as possible.
- Soft, upholstered furniture and carpeting might have to be taken out of the house so it can dry in the sun, or it might have to be discarded.
- Early mold growth should be cleaned with a strong bleach solution or fungicide cleaner, but after mold has begun to multiply, professional remediation probably will be required.
Mold Exposure and Rescue Workers
If you are trying to rescue your home or the home of a fellow disaster victim, be aware of your mold exposure. Wear a particulate respirator (a form-fitting mask that covers the nose and mouth, designed to purify the air you inhale by filtering out airborne particles) and goggles as well as gloves and clothing that can be double-bagged and discarded after use.
After working in a mold-infested area, shower and wash your hair thoroughly as soon as possible, to keep from spreading mold spores or irritating your skin. Many rescue workers who helped victims of Hurricane Katrina subsequently had health problems because of mold exposure.
Toxic Mold and Hurricane Katrina
The flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina left New Orleans and other warm, wet Gulf Coast communities with the perfect environment for mold growth. The problem was compounded by the fact that many homes affected by Katrina were left without electricity to power ventilation fans.
Both New Orleans and Mississippi reported significant increases in cases of respiratory problems in the months following Katrina. Government officials urged families whose homes showed more than 10 square feet of visible mold to seek professional mold remediation and to not reoccupy the homes until the remediation was complete.
Much of the repair work done on Hurricane Katrina-ravaged homes was done with mold-resistant paint and drywall, to keep mold at bay in the new construction should another hurricane arrive. Anyone owning property within a flood plain might consider anti-mold construction methods as an investment against future disasters.
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