Use Care When Hiring A Contractor To Clean Your Flood Damaged Home
Release Date: June 16, 2004
Release Number: 1519-009
» More Information on Ohio Severe Storms and Flooding
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Damage from flooding may be so extensive that you may decide to hire a contractor or cleaning service to help with flood damage cleanup. If you are hiring a contractor to specifically clean up mold, be sure you're dealing with a reputable person or company. People claiming to be mold specialists and cleanup experts may have no training in this field. Improperly done cleanup work can make a mold problem worse instead of better.
Here are some tips on choosing a contractor to perform mold cleanup:
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Make sure the contractor has experience cleaning mold. Ask questions about training, background and what guidelines the company follows. The EPA suggests that contractors follow the recommendations in EPA's Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, the guidelines of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACHIG), or other guidelines published by professional and governmental organizations.
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Check the contractor's references with local officials, trade associations, and the Better Business Bureau if you have questions about specific contractors.
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Do not sign contracts or make down payments without first receiving written estimates from contractors, and avoid offers that seem too good to refuse.
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Be wary of door-to-door solicitors who may visit areas recently affected by flooding and offer cleaning services or other repair work. Their work is often substandard, and in some cases, it is never completed. The solicitor simply disappears with the down payment.
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Whenever possible, deal with a licensed contractor in your own community. These are business people with a local reputation to protect and they can be held accountable for their work.
- If you suspect you've been the victim of fraud, report it to your local police or sheriff's department or to the Ohio Attorney General's Consumer Protection Section at 1-800-282-0515.
The Ohio EMA coordinates State assistance and resources during an emergency and prepares the state for all hazards through planning, training, exercises and funding activities at the state and local level. This includes providing assistance to individuals and administering state and federal assistance to individuals and governmental entities recovering from disaster-related damage and costs. Ohio EMA coordinates homeland security funding, weapons of mass destruction training, anti-terrorism planning and training, and assists local and state agencies determine homeland security strategies and priorities.
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 mtigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 16-Jun-2004 17:05:10