By now, East Coast
residents deeply impacted by Sandy are beginning to return to their everyday,
normal lives. However, there is still much work to be done in order to restore
the heavily affected areas. While some families lost everything, others
received immense amounts of damage. Currently, one of the biggest concerns for homeowners
is the mold they acquired as a result of the flooding.
Mold is caused by
excess moisture and can grow on virtually any type of surface. Items that have
been damp for longer than two days are most likely to produce mold. Mold can be
seen in the form of water stains or as a black or green substance, and can be
detected by its musty smell. Mold can cause reactions in humans with weak immune
systems, or that have a specific allergy to mold. Typical symptoms include
headaches, skin irritations, nasal irritations, nausea and fatigue. However,
more severe symptoms can occur, such as respiratory complications and other
issues that can potentially lead to more serious illnesses.
Because mold has the
potential to create severe symptoms, especially in young children and older
adults, most of those affect by flooding are not taking any chances. Residents
are ripping out carpets and walls that have the potential to gather mold and
are planning to replace them with brand new equipment. Others are using mold
cleaners and preventives that contain bleach and dehumidifiers in efforts to
reduce or prevent mold appearances. According to an article on nbcnews.com, The
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention have done numerous studies on the
health dangers associated with mold and other harmful chemicals following
hurricanes or other similar disasters. They have found that cases of illnesses
from these chemicals greatly increase in the wake of such disasters. Therefore,
those affected by Sandy should take extra precautions to prevent mold from
appearing in their homes.
