Hurricane Isabel Carried A Hazardous Potential For Mold
Release Date: October 13, 2003
Release Number: 1493-24
» More Information on District of Columbia Hurricane Isabel
WASHINGTON -- According to The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), mold growth in water-damaged homes is a potential hazard from flooding. Disaster recovery officials from the District of Columbia Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommend that victims of Hurricane Isabel look out for mold.
Molds are simple microscopic organisms found virtually everywhere. Molds can be found on plants, foods, dry leaves, and other organic material. Mold spores are very tiny and lightweight, allowing them to travel through the air. Mold growths can often be seen in the form of discoloration, ranging from white to orange and from green to brown and black. When molds are present in large quantities, they can cause allergic reactions similar to those caused by plant pollen.
You should be concerned about mold in your home if the contamination is extensive.
Exposure to high spore levels can cause the development of an allergy. Mold can also cause structural damage to your home. Similarly, when wood goes through a period of wetting, then drying, it can eventually warp and cause walls to crack or become structurally weak.
Mold could become a problem in your home if there is enough moisture available to allow mold to thrive and multiply. Dampness in basements, walls, carpets, and wood caused by flooding provide an environment for mold to flourish. You can also be exposed to mold through skin contact and eating.
For some people, a relatively small number of mold spores can cause health problems. The basic rule is, if you can see or smell mold, take steps to eliminate the excess moisture, and to cleanup and remove the mold. It is important to quickly identify and correct any moisture sources before health problems develop. Infants, children, immune compromised patients, pregnant women, individuals with existing respiratory conditions, (allergies, multiple chemical sensitivity, and asthma) and the elderly appear to be at higher risks for adverse health effects from mold.
Allergic reactions may be the most common health problem of mold exposure. Typical symptoms reported (alone or in combination) include:
- Respiratory problems, such as wheezing, and difficulty in breathing
- Nasal and sinus congestion
- Eyes-burning, watery, reddened, blurry vision, light sensitivity
- Dry, hacking cough
- Sore throat
- Nose and throat irritation
- Shortness of breath
- Skin irritation
- Central nervous system problems (constant headaches, memory problems, and mood changes)
- Aches and pains
- Possible fever
You can tell if you have mold in your home if you can see it, or if there is an earthy or musty odor. Allergic individuals may experience the symptoms listed above. Visible mold growth is found underneath materials where water has damaged surfaces, or behind walls. Look for discoloration and leaching from plaster.
Before beginning work on a flooded home, make sure the electricity is turned off. Unplug appliances and lamps, remove light bulbs and cover plates of wall switches or outlets that got wet. If local building inspection code allows you to disconnect wiring from switches and outlets, do so and throw them away. If your building inspector says that you cannot disconnect the wiring, pull them forward, away from the wall, and leave them connected.
- Remove as much mud as possible. Once you have checked the water system for leaks, hose down the inside of the house and its contents. It is best to use an attachment that sprays soap to wash and rinse the walls, floors, furniture, sockets, electrical boxes, and other major items that got muddy. Use a non-ammonia soap or detergent, or a commercial cleaner in hot water and scrub the entire area affected by the mold. A stiff brush or cleaning pad works well on block walls or uneven surfaces. Rinse clean with water. A wet/dry vacuum is handy for this process.
- Remove heating and cooling registers and ducts, then hose them to prevent contamination when blowing through the ducts at a later date. Next, scientists recommend washing with a disinfectant that is quaternary, phenolic or pine-oil based. If ducts are in a slab or otherwise inaccessible, have them cleaned professionally.
- Disinfect and dry the moldy area. It is critical to remove the source of moisture, before beginning to clean up, as mold growth will return, if the area becomes wet again.
- Bag and dispose any material that has moldy residues, such as rags, paper, leaves, or debris. Harder materials such as glass, plastic, or metal can be kept after they are cleaned and disinfected.
- Wear gloves when handling moldy materials. Moldy materials should be removed as follows:
- Remove porous materials (examples: ceiling tiles, drywall, carpeting, wood products)
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Carpeting can be a difficult problem - drying does not remove the dead spores. If there is heavy mold, consider replacing.
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Allow the area to dry 2 or 3 days.
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If flooded, remove all drywall to at least 12 inches above the high water mark.
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Visually inspect the wall interior and remove any other intrusive molds. (This step may have to be carried out by a licensed contractor).
- Remove porous materials (examples: ceiling tiles, drywall, carpeting, wood products)
- Use caution, as spores are easily released when moldy material is dried out. When cleaning these damaged materials, consider wearing a mask or using a respirator. Respirators can be purchased from hardware stores; select one for particle removal (sometimes referred to as a N95 or TC-21C particulate respirator). Respirators are not as effective removing bleach fumes, so minimize your exposure when using bleach or other disinfectants.
- After thoroughly cleaning and rinsing, disinfect the area with a solution of 10 percent household bleach (e.g., 1 1/2 cups bleach per gallon of water). Using bleach straight from the bottle will not be more effective. Never mix bleach with Ammonia - the fumes are toxic. Avoid excessive amounts of runoff or standing bleach. Make sure the working area is well ventilated.
- Try cleaning a small test patch of mold first. If you feel that this adversely affected your health, you should consider paying a licensed contractor or professional to carry out the work.
- Ask others to leave the areas during the cleaning process.
- Work over short time spans and rest in a fresh air location.
- Air your house out well during and after the work.
Some final advice: Never use a gasoline engine indoors - you could expose yourself and your family to carbon monoxide.
If mold odors persist, continue to dry out the area and search for any hidden areas of mold. If the area continues to smell musty, you may have to re-clean the area. Continue to dry and ventilate the area. Don't replace flooring or begin rebuilding until the area has dried completely.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
This Press Release Was Updated on 06/28/05
Last Modified: Tuesday, 28-Jun-2005 14:28:58