Protecting Yourself From Mold

After a disaster, and particularly after a flood, you might find yourself dealing with the growth of mold in your home. This is particularly true if a hurricane or flood has prevented you from returning to your home and there has been standing water in the unit for a long time.

Be aware that mold could be anywhere in your home and not visible. Sometimes you suffer symptoms before you actually see the mold that is causing the problem. People with asthma, allergies or other breathing problems might be more sensitive to mold. If your immune system is suppressed or if you are wounded you might also be more susceptible to getting infections from mold.

People who are exposed to mold may experience sniffling, stuffed up nasal passages, irrigated eyes, wheezing, skin irritations and other problems. Those with lung disease could develop mold infections in their lungs.

Many people smell mold before they see it. It usually is a foul, musty or earthy stench. Discolored walls, tiles or actual green blue or black patches on your walls signify the presence of growing mold. Some people have a foggy, distressed feeling. Many get very sick for days just after a few minutes of exposure.

Your goal when you get home from a flood is to safely prevent the mold growth as fast as possible. Open your doors and windows and use fans to dry out the building.

If you are not sure if something is moldy take it out of your home. Porous items that have been wet for more than two days are the most vulnerable. These items need to be removed from the home. You should also get rid of materials that are known to be very vulnerable to mold damage including carpet padding upholstery, drywall, wall paper, drywall, ceiling tiles, insulation material, leather, paper and wood. You should also take away all clothing and food that might be contaminated.

Once you have gotten rid of all contaminated items you should clean everything with detergent and water. You can remove mold growth from objects using a solution of 1-cup bleach in 1 gallon of water. A stiff brush can be used to get the mold off of the oncrete. It is also a good idea to open the windows and doors wide while you are doing this. Make sure that you are wearing non-porous protective gloves and goggles to prevent exposure to mold spores and dangerous spores.

If the area to be cleaned is more than 10 square feet, consult the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guide titled Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings

Survival

Hazards to Watch Out For After a Flood

After flood waters recede it might be necessary to return to your home. Before you do make sure that electrical power, natural gas and propane tanks have all been disabled. This will prevent fire, explosions or electrocution. Many disaster experts recommend returning to your home during the day so you do not need electricity for lighting.

If you smell gas or suspect a leak leave the house immediately and notify the gas company, fire department or State Marshall’s office. Do not return to the dwelling until it is safe to do so.

You also need to be careful if you see shredded or frayed wires or see small sparks. The smell of burning without seeing a visible fire is as a danger sign. Avoid any power lines, especially those in water.

If you cannot see the water because it is dark or murky then avoid wading through it. This water might contain glass or metal fragments that can really hurt you.

Keep in mind that it might take a while for any restoration of your services to take place. Do not connect generators to your home’s electrical circuits without approved devices. This can endanger workers working on electrical lines to restore power in your area.

Clean up might also be a big deal. Make sure that all surfaces are cleaned with soap and water and then disinfected with solution of one cup of bleach to five gallons of water. Make sure fridges, counter tops and shelves are very carefully cleaned. All linens and clothing should also be washed n very hot water. Items such as mattresses and furniture should be air dried in the sun and the sprayed with a

disinfectant. Steam cleaning carpets and upholstery also helps.

If there has been a back flow of sewage into the4 home then you need to wear goggles, boots and gloves during cleaning. ‘ Be sure to throw out anything that is too contaminated to keep.

If you have moving water in your home than be very careful. It is advisable to leave clean up until this stops because people have been known to drown in even very shallow water. Another danger is that chemical hazards, debris and batteries could flow your way and cause physical injuries.

Outbreaks of communicable diseases are common after a flood so if you are advised to get an immunization then you should do so. Be sure to that you get shots if your have a wound that is a puncture wound or one that might have been contaminated with saliva or feces.