Mold May Be Present In Flood-Damaged Homes
Mold can cause adverse health effects
Release Date: October 20, 2004
Release Number: 1569-009
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OWATONNA, Minn. -- If your home was affected in the recent flooding it could be harboring mold.
“Mold is a significant problem after flooding and proper cleanup is critical to ensure it doesn’t affect your or your family’s health,” Kathy Norlien, environmental research scientist at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), said. “Anything that's been in contact with flood water is potentially contaminated, and people need to proceed on that assumption. It's important to clean potentially contaminated materials — and get them dried out — as quickly as possible."
Federal officials are also stressing the importance of proper cleanup of flooded property to prevent mold growth and health problems.
“People are anxious to get on with their lives after a flood, but if you had flood waters in your home take the time to clean thoroughly so problems don’t arise later that affect your home or your health,” Thomas J. Costello, federal coordinating officer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said.
Norlien emphasized that when cleaning up after a flood, care must be taken to clean and completely dry any areas of the home that have gotten wet from floodwaters in order to prevent structural damage and adverse health effects from mold.
“It's also important to keep an eye out for ongoing moisture problems,” Norlien said. "Flooding can cause changes in your property — and as a result, you could have potential moisture problems that weren't present before.”
Mold and Health Concerns
Mold growth is a common occurrence in flood-damaged homes and damp environments. 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 provides an environment for mold to flourish.
Mold is made up of simple microscopic organisms that are found virtually everywhere. It can often be seen in the form of discoloration, ranging from white to orange and from green to brown and black, and gives off a musty or earthy smell.
Exposure to mold can cause health problems. 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.
Health symptoms known to be associated with exposure to mold include nose and throat irritation, wheeze, cough, asthma attacks in individuals who have asthma, and lower respiratory tract infections (in children). People with pre-existing respiratory conditions may also be susceptible to more serious lung infections.
Mold Prevention Tips
There is no practical way for you to eliminate all of the molds and mold spores in the indoor environment. But there are many ways to help control moisture and mold growth in your home. 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.
Stop the Water
- Fix leaks in pipes, and any damp area around tubs and sinks, so mold spores don’t have a growing environment
- Rebuild, or retrofit, with water-resistant building materials such as tile, stone, deep-sealed concrete, galvanized or stainless steel hardware, indoor/outdoor carpeting, waterproof wallboard, water-resistant glues and so on
- Prevent seepage of water from outdoors into your house. It’s important to have rainwater from gutters or the roof drain away from the house. Ground around the house needs to slope away to keep basement and crawl space dry
- Cover dirt in crawl spaces with plastic to prevent moisture from coming from the ground. Ventilate the area as much as possible
Keep It Clean
- Clean fabrics, such as curtains and upholstery, often and keep them dry, because soil promotes mold growth
- Store clean fabric items in well-ventilated areas
- Consider having air ducts cleaned professionally if you suspect mold exists on the inside surface of the duct or if duct insulation has been wet
Disinfect It
- After cleaning has removed all visible mold and other soiling from contaminated surfaces, a disinfectant may be used to kill mold missed by the cleaning
- Disinfect surfaces with a solution of approximately 1-1/4 cup of bleach to a gallon of water
Keep It Dry
- Reduce the moisture in the air with dehumidifiers, fans and open windows or air conditioners, especially in hot weather. Do NOT use fans if mold may already exist; a fan will spread the mold spores
- Try to keep the humidity in your home below 40%
- In moisture-prone areas, choose carpets of man-made fibers
- Reduce potential for condensation on cold surfaces by insulating
Additional information on mold and mold cleanup can be found on these web sites:
- MDH provides information at http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/mold/index.html. For a printable brochure on mold prevention and cleanup, visit FEMA’s Preparation and Prevention web page at www.fema.gov/library/prepandprev.shtm.
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 the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 20-Oct-2004 10:59:34