After
The Storm - Now What?
Flood Remediation
Staff at Aerias.org
 During
a flood cleanup, the indoor air quality
in homes, offices or any type of building
may at first glance be the last thing
on anyone's mind, but failure to completely
and properly dry building interiors
and remove any and all contaminated
materials can result in serious long-term
health risks to building occupants.
Standing
water and wet materials are a breeding
ground for microorganisms, including
bacteria and mold. They can trigger
allergic reactions or make asthma
symptoms worse, and continue to damage
building materials, furnishings long
after the flood.
Safety
First
Safety
is the first concern when entering
a home or building that has been damaged
by floodwaters. Here are some guidelines:
* Check for structural damage. Do
not go in if there is any chance of
the building collapsing.
* Upon entering the building, do not
use matches, cigarette lighters or
any other open flames, since natural
gas and other combustible fumes may
be trapped inside. Instead, use a
flashlight.
* Be careful walking around. After
a flood, steps and floors are often
slippery with mud and covered with
debris, including nails and broken
glass.
* Keep the electrical power off until
an electrician has inspected the electrical
system for safety.
* Until local authorities proclaim
the water supply to be safe, boil
water for drinking and food preparation
vigorously for five minutes before
using.
Next
Priority -- Drying Out
Once
the building has been judged structurally
sound, the next priority is to dry
it out!
Many
microorganisms, including mold begin
growing within 24 to 48 hours. As
a result, it is imperative to begin
the drying process as soon as possible.
Here are some steps to follow:
1.
Remove standing water
2. Identify and remove
animal carcasses and materials affected
by the water
3. Dry out the area
4. Wear protective
clothing
5. Clean and disinfect
6. Hire professional
help
Remove Any
Standing Water
Standing
water is a breeding ground for microorganisms,
which can become airborne and be inhaled.
In addition, floodwater that contains
sewage or decaying animal carcasses
may also harbor infectious microorganisms.
To minimize health problems and lessen
structural damage, all standing water
should be removed as quickly as possible.
Identify and Remove Animal Carcasses
and Materials Affected by the Water
If
a flood involves sewage-contaminated
water or has animal carcasses floating
in it, do not try to save any of the
materials as exposure to this kind
of water carries the additional hazard
of infection with the hepatitis A
virus.
Bag
and throw away any materials that
can trap mold. Also, make sure that
there is no asbestos or lead in the
materials to be thrown out. Disturbing
or removing materials containing asbestos
(such as in insulation) or lead (such
as in lead-based paint) may result
in elevated concentrations of those
hazardous materials in the air. Just
looking will not yield a definitive
answer. Sampling may need to be done
to verify the materials' composition.
Some
materials tend to absorb and keep
water more than others. If these materials
get wet and cannot be thoroughly cleaned
and dried, discard them. Otherwise,
they can remain a source of future
microbial growth. Mold may begin growing
24 hours after the materials become
wet although there may not be any
visible signs of it. Molds are mistakenly
considered more of a nuisance than
a health threat, but their damage
can be long lasting. Examples of water-absorbing
materials that must be removed and
thrown out include:
- Ceiling
tiles
-
Insulation
-
Paper
-
Rags
-
Drywall
-
Mattresses
-
Wicker furniture
-
Straw baskets
|
- Upholstered
furniture
-
Old boxes
-
Stuffed toys
-
Drapes
-
Plaster
-
Cork bulletin boards
-
Old clothing
-
Books
|
These
items can retain water and begin growing
mold even if they appear to be dry.
Some may become contaminated with
mold while wet and continue to be
a source of mold spores and exposure
even after drying. Flooded carpet,
for example, can store mold spores
for years. Any carpet if not properly
maintained can store mold spores,
and flooded carpet allows the mold
to grow further. Running fans and
opening windows is not enough. Once
carpet becomes colonized (mold growing
in the material), it needs to be discarded
unless professional cleaning can effectively
remove the microbiological contaminants.
Remove
all drywall and insulation damaged
by water at least 12 inches above
the high water mark. Visually inspect
the wall interior and remove any other
materials with visible mold growth.
(This step may have to be carried
out by a licensed contractor.) This
removal of mold-contaminated material
from the walls is crucial because
both allergic and toxic effects can
remain in dead spores.
Dry
Out the Area
If
areas are wet, yet have not suffered
from a flood, set up fans and turn
on the HVAC system to help dry things
out. It is important to do this because
microorganisms like mold can quickly
begin growing in materials. These
can later be released into the air
and trigger allergies and asthma attacks
along with other health problems.
If humidity levels are increased for
a long time then dust mites may grow.
Dust mites prefer humidity levels
above 60 percent.
Be
patient! The proper drying out process
can take a long time.
In
large buildings, the typical drying
out period may be 7 to 10 days. It
is imperative to not only dry the
building, but to dry it out correctly.
Drying out large buildings is a very
complex process and will require the
help of professionals. Believe it
or not, if a building is dried out
too quickly, interior furnishing materials
can become damaged.
If
the structure does not have electricity,
do not use internal combustion engines
indoors since they can quickly emit
deadly levels of carbon monoxide.
Examples include gasoline-powered
generators, camp stoves and lanterns,
or charcoal-burning devices. Do not
use combustion devices designed for
outdoor use inside, even in an emergency,
since that can be deadly!
Dress
the Part
Because
mold may have begun growing in some
of the materials that will be removed,
be sure to wear appropriate protective
clothing. Cleaning up mold can be
hazardous to health since mold counts
are typically 10 to 1,000 times higher
than background levels during the
cleaning of mold damaged materials.
Here are some steps to follow:
* Wear a dust mask or particulate
respirator (sometimes referred to
as a N95 or TC-21C particulate respirator)
to keep from breathing in airborne
spores. However, remember this type
of mask will not protect the persion
wearing it from the vapors of cleaning
or bleach solutions that can irritate
eyes, nose, and throat, and damage
clothing and shoes. In addition to
protective equipment, make sure the
working area is ventilated well.
* Wear eye-protection
* Wear gloves. While removing materials,
cover rubber gloves that may tear
easily with work gloves. Be sure to
wear gloves when using cleaning and
disinfecting solutions.
* Wear sturdy waterproof boots to
protect the feet from hazards, which
may not visible in dirty floodwater.
* Wear protective clothing that is
easily cleaned or discarded
Clean and
Disinfect
 All
surfaces that are exposed to food,
children or pets will need to be thoroughly
cleaned. Also clean and disinfect
non-porous materials such as glass,
plastic or metal. Materials such as
the tops of metal desks or file cabinets
and concrete, cement, or tile floors
can be cleaned using a solution
of one (1) part bleach to 10 parts
water. Be sure the area is well ventilated.
* Ask staff or bystanders to leave
when these areas are being cleaned.
* Before beginning to clean off any
mold, try cleaning a small test patch
of it first. If you feel that this
adversely affected your health, you
should consider paying a licensed
contractor or professional to carry
out the work.
* Use soap/detergent and hot water
or a commercial cleaner. DO NOT APPLY
ANY AMMONIA-BASED PRODUCTS! Ammonia
or ammonia-based cleaners should not
be used since residual ammonia can
encourage mold growth.
* Thoroughly scrub all contaminated
surfaces (use a stiff brush to clean
block walls) with an excessive amount
of soap/detergent.
* Rinse well with water
* After thorough cleaning and rinsing,
disinfect the area. To disinfect,
use a solution of 10 percent household
bleach (for example, one (1) cup bleach
per five (5) gallons of water) and
a little detergent. (The detergent
will help with the dirt and oil on
the surface and act as a surfactant
to help thoroughly wet all surfaces).
NEVER MIX BLEACH AND AMMONIA SINCE
THEY CAN FORM DEADLY VAPORS!
* Bleach solution should be applied
with a handheld garden sprayer. For
large exterior areas, you can spray
using a garden hose and nozzle but
avoid excessive amount of runoff or
standing bleach.
* When disinfecting a large structure,
make sure the entire surface is wetted
(floors, joists and posts). Use a
brush or broom to force the solution
into crevices.
* Be sure you wash and disinfect the
walls, floors, closets, shelves, and
contents. The HVAC system should be
evaluated for mold contamination and
professional help engaged to handle
the evaluation and cleaning of the
system.
* Work over short time spans and rest
in a fresh air location. Provide continuous
and controlled ventilation in work
area, with the area of contamination
kept at a negative pressure in relationship
with the rest of the home. Iin other
words, air should flow from clean
to dirty areas.
* Allow bleach solution to dry naturally
for a six to eight hours.
* Air out the house (and the building
if windows can be opened) out for
about two to three days after the
work. Increase airflow in the house
by moving furniture away from walls
and opening closet doors. Consider
increasing outdoor airflow in buildings
in which windows cannot be opened.
Hire
Professional Help
Most
mold remediation guidelines advise
that if the area of mold growth is
larger than 10 sq. ft. to hire a professional
contractor to remove the mold and
any contaminated materials. But be
careful! After a major storm, unqualified
opportunists may offer to help. Be
wary of people who drive through neighborhoods
offering help in cleaning up or repairs.
Be sure that any contractors that
are hired for cleanup or repairs are
qualified to do the job. Check their
credentials and their references.
Insurance adjusters may be able to
assist in finding reputable and qualified
contractors.
Copyright © 2001 Aerias,
LLC All rights reserved.
reprinted with permission
See
our Mold
Solution Buyers Guide at AllergyBuyersClub.com
for our best-rated products for helping
prevent and kill mold.
Top
|
I
have to tell you something
very strange about our
company which defies
statistical probability-
a full 20% of the people
here at AllergyBuyersClub.com
share the same birthday,
March 19th, and we unknowingly
hired another one a
couple of weeks ago
- now is that weird
or what? My birthday
is NOT March 19th but
I can tell you this
group have quite the
birthday bash each year.
The only thing I have
observed about all these
people is they are all
good team players. So
someone please tell
me the odds of this
happening!
Enjoy
the Fall, even if I
am sneezing again!
What
happens is that your nose is stuffy and
you can’t sleep. So you spray with
the nose spray and open the nose beautifully.
Now you can breathe and sleep. 
=
poor 
=
fair 
=
good 
=
very good 
= excellent
