Hard-to-spot mold colonies, hiding in wall cavities and crevices, can create severe health problems and, if left unattended, require costly and major structural repairs.

Flooded-out residents should take a second look at their basements and belongings for fuzzy patches or musty smells and kill off any spores before mold makes a bad situation worse, warn environmental and health experts.

“It is something people need to worry about,” said Richard McGarvey, spokesman for the state Department of Health. “Mold likes the cool, damp, dark places. It’s not something that’s out in the light a lot.

“It’s something you need to be looking for.”

Flooding only intensifies those conditions where mold thrives.

Wood, paper and items made of cellulose, a raw material in many manufactured goods like drywall and plaster, are ideal breeding grounds for mold colonies, which often appear as fuzzy patches of black, brown, green or white.

While smaller mold colonies subsist in most environments, both indoor and outdoor, their intensity and vast quantities in flooded basements and houses can trigger respiratory problems for children, elderly people and those with breathing problems, said McGarvey.

Cleanup should entail removing all wet items from the flooded area, often including the walls themselves, said Mike Steckler, an estimator with ServiceMaster, a commercial and residential cleaner in Scranton. Residents should then use a solution of nine parts water to one part bleach to spray affected areas.
 

Many home and business owners have already cleaned up, but they often miss mold colonies lurking behind walls or in dark places, said Steckler, whose company has already cleaned out about 80 homes in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Others, whose homes are still water-logged, should follow similar steps. The key in both situations is drying out the flooded area with fans and dehumidifiers, then keeping a close watch for colonies and fuzzy patches, said T.J. Jimmie, president of Dunmore environmental firm Datom Products Inc.

Disaster agencies like the American Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency offer guidelines and tips for dealing with mold growth caused by flooding. But, unlike water and outdoor air, there are no environmental regulations governing the quality of indoor air.

Many homeowners will be able to kill off mold colonies on their own. Others may need to seek outside help.

If mold growth is present in more than 25 square feet of your home, FEMA recommends the use of a professional contractor.

Calling the move “a last resort,” Jimmie cautioned homeowners to do their homework when selecting a contractor. There are no formal state or federal certifications for mold removal, and scam artists have duped home and business owners in the past, he said.

“Choose wisely in a contractor, and get two or three quotations,” said Jimmie. “It’s not a quick-fix. It’s a drawn-out procedure.”

For more information, visit www.fema.gov/rebuild/recover/mold.shtm.
 
 

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