Toxic Mold News
Additional Hurricane-Typhoon-Tornado-Windstorm-Fire Mold News Articles
Mold damage often hidden: Homeowners warned to address problem
by Andi
Atwater,
Published by
news-press.com [Florida] on September 10, 2004
The first thing Marie Dinon noticed when she drove to her Fort Myers Beach
home five days after Hurricane Charley hit was that only about 30 percent of
her roof remained. It didn't take long to spot the 17-inch water marks on
the outside of her home where floodwater had rushed past — and through — her
Shell Mound Boulevard two-story house.
She knew the walls inside had gotten wet, but after she pulled the carpet,
disinfected the floors and walls and removed furniture that obviously was
ruined, Dinon thought she may have had a handle on a potential mold problem.
But it was too late. Last week, Dinon had her drywall pulled, and what she
saw behind it horrified her: spots upon spots of smelly mold creeping and
growing in the dark and humid recesses of her walls. "I was absolutely
shocked. I wouldn't have guessed it — it grew that fast," said Dinon, who
works for the Lee County School District. "I had no idea I was supposed to
take my walls out. I think a lot of people did not know that."
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is warning residents who got water
damage in their homes — whether through flooding or through broken roofs —
that mold, mildew and bacteria can become huge problems and need to be
addressed immediately.
Mold spores can damage building structures and pose a health problems for
many people. FEMA spokesman Cleo Howell said that Florida's high heat and
humidity are perfect environments for mold growth, which can begin as early
as a day or two after water gets in a house.
Items such as as Sheetrock, drywall, insulation, carpet, carpet pads and
mattresses should be removed promptly after flooding — even if it looks dry.
"The trouble is, like with Sheetrock, say the bottom 6 inches is wet. The
way it's made, it tends to work up Sheetrock a little ways and if you don't
take it off, you don't know what's behind it," Howell said.
"What we recommend to people is that they first get everything that is wet
out of the house ... if you can clean it, like clothes — wash and dry it
properly — then you're OK. But things like Sheetrock, insulation, carpeting
... probably has to be thrown away."
Mold is becoming more and more a concern for Cape Coral mom Cecile Johnson,
42, who had to remove her 11-year-old asthmatic son from her Southwest 14th
Place home because water saturated his bedroom and mold spores are becoming
visible on her home's ceilings and walls.
Johnson said she was the only one on her block to sustain significant roof
damage and has been waiting for nearly a month now for money from her
insurance company to fix the leaks and take out the walls.
What started out with Charley as leakage in several bedrooms, a bathroom and
the garage is now a major problem throughout most of the house with Frances,
she said.
"Water is still falling. I have little buckets all over the house," Johnson
said. "Now I'm worried about mold. I didn't have mold before Charley and I
have mold now and it's just getting worse." |
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