Flooded Homes May Harbor Mold Problems
2003年10月28日 - 6:07AM
PRニュース・ワイアー (英語)
Flooded Homes May Harbor Mold Problems HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 27
/PRNewswire/ -- Flooding hit sections of Pennsylvania more than a
month ago, but residents may still face serious mold problems,
state and federal officials said. "You should be concerned about
mold, particularly if the amount is extensive," said David M.
Sanko, director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
"If mold does develop, fixing the problem quickly is important and
could save homeowners thousands in mold removal costs and potential
health problems in the future." Molds are simple microscopic
organisms found virtually everywhere, indoors and outdoors. When
mold is present in large quantities it can result in allergic
symptoms similar to those caused by plant pollen. Be aware that
exposure to mold can occur during cleanup. To minimize exposure,
use a mask or respirator, wear rubber gloves and take breaks in a
well-ventilated area. "Be careful when cleaning mold," said Federal
Coordinating Officer Tom Davies of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA). "Mold grows within two days, so the sooner mold is
removed, the lower the chance of long- term health effects." Blair,
Crawford, Lackawanna, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Tioga,
Venango, Warren and Wayne counties were declared eligible for
disaster aid as a result after severe storms and flooding that hit
the area between July 21 and Sept. 12. When airborne mold spores
are present in large numbers they can cause allergic reactions,
asthma episodes, infections, and other respiratory problems. People
who are at higher risk from the effects of mold include infants and
children; the elderly; people with compromised immune systems
because of HIV infection, liver disease, or chemotherapy; pregnant
women; and people with existing respiratory conditions such as
allergies, multiple chemical sensitivity, and asthma. People with
these conditions should consult a physician if they are
experiencing health problems. Here are some tips for cleaning mold:
-- Identify and correct the moisture source. Then clean, disinfect,
and dry the moldy area. Keep the area well ventilated and dispose
of anything that has moldy residue, such as rags, paper, leaves or
debris. -- Porous materials can trap molds. Items such as paper,
rags, wallboard and rotten wood should be thrown out. Harder
materials such as glass, plastic and metal can be kept after they
are cleaned and disinfected. -- Wear protective gloves, such as
rubber dishwashing gloves, when working with moldy materials.
Remove and discard porous materials such as ceiling tiles,
sheetrock, carpeting and wood products. -- Carpeting can be a
difficult problem. Drying does not remove the dead mold spores. If
there is heavy mold on the carpet, the best course of action may be
to discard it. If the area was flooded, remove sheetrock to at
least 12 inches above the high water mark. Allow the area to dry
two or three days before replacing damaged materials. -- Use
non-ammonia soap or detergent, or a commercial cleaner in hot
water. Scrub the entire affected area thoroughly using a stiff
brush or cleaning pad. Then rinse with clean water. -- After
thorough cleaning and rinsing, disinfect the area with a solution
of 10 percent household bleach (1-1/2 cups bleach per gallon of
water). Never mix bleach with ammonia. The fumes are toxic. Allow
disinfecting areas to dry naturally overnight to kill all molds. 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
For more disaster information, please visit the PEMA Website at
http://www.pema.state.pa.us/. More information also is available on
FEMA's "For the Media" site, at http://www.fema.gov/media, and
radio actualities are available from the FEMA Radio Network:
1-800-323-5248. Contact: Maria Smith, PEMA 717-651-2009 Len
DeCarlo, FEMA 717-558-3634, Cell: 202-431-7092 Colleen Hiam, SBA
800-659-2955 DATASOURCE: Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
CONTACT: Maria Smith, PEMA, +1-717-651-2009; or Len DeCarlo, FEMA,
+1-717-558-3634, Cell: +1-202-431-7092; or Colleen Hiam, SBA,
+1-800-659-2955 Web site: http://www.fema.gov/media Web site:
http://www.state.pa.us/ http://www.pema.state.pa.us/
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