Mold Control Is Critical For Those Affected by Flooding

Many Gulf Coast residents evacuated the area in anticipation of Hurricane Gustav hitting ground over the past weekend.  Naturally, a person’s first instinct is to get themselves and their loved ones to safety.  Next, however, comes the waiting, watching and wondering.  What will the Hurricane do to my house?  Will my belongings be safe?  Those who have experienced the effects of flooding have found the following hints helpful for minimizing the damage from mold to their home and danger to their loved ones.

Removing mold problems requires a series of actions, including taking emergency action to stop water intrusion, determining the extent of water damage and mold contamination, and planning and implementing remediation activities.

The CDC recommends that children and pets be kept out of the affected area until cleanup has been completed and that those involved in cleanup wear protective boots, gloves and goggles.   Those items that cannot be washed and disinfected and should be disposed of because they can remain a source of mold growth.  These include:  mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture, cosmetics, stuffed animals, baby toys, pillows, foam-rubber items, books, wall coverings, and most paper products.

Tune in for our next blog post for more details on removing mold in the home and salvaging household items.