Flooding? Make Sure You Take the Proper Steps Before Rebuilding

After a natural disaster such as Hurricane Michael, excess moisture and standing water contribute to the growth of mold in homes and other buildings. Every flooded part of your house -- walls, floors, closets, shelves, contents -- should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Some cleanup can probably be done by you, while others should be completed by professional mold remediators. If you are not sure what is safe or effective enough for you to do yourself, it's important to call a licensed mold assessor like Ericks Environmental Consulting. Did you know FL Statues state you must use an independent mold assessor? By law your remediator can not perform both the assessment and the remediation. 

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This law was put into effect  to protect, you the homeowner, from unethical business practices.  As an independent assessor, Ericks Environmental Consulting will evaluate your problem. We will assess your water damage before rebuilding begins, find any hidden mold and present you will an unbiased protocol plan to provide the mold remediation company, contractor or water extraction company you hire. If you've already had mold remediation done, let us inspect and make sure nothing was overlooked. This can save you future time, headache and money.

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Floodwaters Affect a House (in at least) Three Ways:

• Water damages materials; for example wall board will disintegrate if it stays wet too long; wood can swell, warp or rot; and of course electrical parts can malfunction and cause fires or shock.

• Mud, silt and unknown contaminants in the water not only get everything dirty; they are also unhealthy.

• Dampness promotes the growth of mildew, mold or fungus that can grow on everything.

 

It’s Important to Lower Your Home’s Humidity as Soon as Possible

• Open up your house

• Open closet and cabinet doors

• Use fans

• Run dehumidifiers to dry ceilings, walls and floors

• Use desiccants

 

When returning to your home that has been flooded, be aware that mold may be present and may be a health risk for your family.

• People with asthma, allergies, or other breathing conditions may be more sensitive to mold.

• People with immune suppression (such as people with HIV infection, cancer patients taking chemotherapy, and people who have received an organ transplant) are more susceptible to mold infections. People with a weakened immune system, especially people receiving treatment for cancer, people who have had an organ or stem cell transplant, and people taking medicines that suppress the immune system, should avoid cleaning up mold. Children should not take part in disaster cleanup work.

 

If you or your family members have health problems after exposure to mold, contact your doctor or other health care provider.

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Although you are probably eager to start immediately with your home’s recovery and cleanup efforts, we can't stress enough how critical it is to first hire a licensed mold assessor to evaluate, test and create a thorough protocol plan of action for your home’s water damage before you begin to rebuild. 

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