The Hurricane
Ivan Business Relief Fund
(downloadable
PDF application form follows article)
Playing waiting game can pay big benefits for flood victims
Stream bank cleanup to create 79 jobs
Price Requests 4$ Million Redirected to Flood Relief
Pa. to cover towns' share of $264 million Ivan bill
U.S. grant goes to create 672 jobs in flood cleanup
Tips on Cleaning Up Your Home or Business
Even though these articles
refer to "home", the information applies to any building
that has been damaged by flooding, including businesses.
How
to Dry Out Your Home (or business)
This article outlines the most
complete process for drying out buildings which have been soaked
with flood water, including removal of debris and treatment of
walls, floors and woodwork.
DOWNLOAD
AS A PDF (120KB)
What
Do I Do About Mold in My Home (or business)
This article describes the health
effects of mold, how to find it and clean it up.
DOWNLOAD
AS A PDF (157KB)
Be patient. Drying out could take several weeks. Until your building is reasonably dry, damage caused by mildew and decay will continue. The musty odor will stay forever if your building is not dried out well.
NEW HURRICANE IVAN RELIEF PROGRAMS
FOR BUSINESSES:
The Hurricane Ivan Business Relief Fund is a public-private partnership between Allegheny County and the foundation community to support County businesses affected by the September 17, 2004 flood. Business that applied for a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan and were (1) unable to obtain SBA funding and (2) have sustained $500,000 or less in damage may be eligible for assistance.
The County has designated $2.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars to provide 2ero interest loans to eligible businesses. The foundation community has provided $1.8 million in separate funding that will be used for outright grants based on a percentage of what business owners receive in the County loan program.
For further information on the Hurricane Ivan Business Relief Fund, contact the Allegheny County Department of Economic Development at 412-350-1198.
FOR RESIDENCES:
Allegheny County has contributed $1 million in CDBG funds to the Hurricane Ivan Home Relief Program and is working in conjunction with Hosanna Industries to rehabilitate 500 homes over the course of a year. Rehabilitation efforts are being largely staffed by volunteers and can include refurbishing basements, removing debris, and installing new walls, insulation, and flooring. The organization has already received more than $1.6 million in private donations to assist in the project. Volunteers are needed for construction support, safety training, project oversight, hospitality, and first aid, among other resources and can sign-up by contacting Economic Development or by submitting an interest form available on the County's website which can be faxed or mailed to Development.
For further information on the Hurricane Ivan Home Relief Fund, contact the Allegheny County Department of Economic Development at 412-350-1087.
TAX RELIEF:
Businesses and residences that suffered major and minor damage from the September 17, 2004 flood, as determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will have the assessed values of their property adjusted for 2005 to reflect those damages. Notices have already been sent to over 4,000 property owners to advise of the 40% (major damage) or 30% (minor damage) reduction. Property owners who did not receive a notice of reduction, but believe they are eligible can contact the Office of Property Assessment for review. For properties that had damage resulting in a decrease of more than 50% in property value, owners should complete and submit a Catastrophic Loss form to the County by March 17, 2005.
For further information on Tax
Relief, contact the Allegheny County Office of Property Assessments
at 412-350-4600.
And here's the full press release from the county.
ONORATO JOINS FOUNDATIONS, COMMUNITY GROUP TO ANNOUNCE NEW PROGRAMS FOR FLOOD VICTIMS
Introduce Hurricane Ivan Business Relief Fund and Hurricane Ivan Home Relief Program
PITTSBURGH, PA, January 25,
2005 - Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato has partnered
with Hosanna Industries and Pittsburgh-area
foundations to support county residents and businesses affected
by the Sept. 17, 2004 flood.
At a press conference today, Onorato joined Bill Trueheart, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Pittsburgh Foundation, and members of the foundation community to introduce the Hurricane Ivan Business Relief Fund. Onorato also joined Donn Ed, Executive Director of Hosanna Industries, to announce the Hurricane Ivan Home Relief Program.
The Hurricane Ivan Business Relief Fund is a unique public-private partnership in which Allegheny County will provide zero interest loans to eligible businesses, and the foundation community will provide a separate fund that will make outright grants based on a percentage of what business owners receive in the county loan program.
"It became clear that many businesses damaged by the flood would never reopen without some type of assistance," Onorato said. "Our program will enable many small businesses to move forward toward profitability and restore a sense of normalcy to many of our neighborhood business districts."
Together, the county and foundation community created a relief fund of more than $4.3 million, with the county contributing $2.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars and area foundations providing more than $1.8 million in grant dollars.
The program targets viable businesses that could not obtain federal Small Business Administration (SBA) funding and have sustained $500,000 or less in damage. Approximately 200-250 businesses are likely to benefit from the relief fund.
"At our foundation, we're very proud to be part of such a strong community effort to respond effectively to people and businesses coming up short on other sources of aid," said Maxwell King, president of The Heinz Endowments. "It should be an extra layer of assurance to those affected by this terrible flooding that the foundation community will continue monitoring the loan fund to ensure every dollar is used effectively."
Commitments to the Hurricane Ivan Business Relief fund have been made from: Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, Citizens Bank Foundation, Dollar Bank Foundation, The Grable Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, The Hillman Foundation, Jewish Healthcare Foundation, Laurel Foundation, Mellon Financial Corporation, Richard King Mellon Foundation, Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation, The Pittsburgh Foundation, PNC Bank, St. Margaret Foundation, and the Wagner Family Charitable Trust.
"The broad scope of this flood relief initiative is the result of Pittsburgh's public and private sectors working together towards a common goal to ease the misery and devastation that affected so many families and businesses," Trueheart said. "It has been made possible by innovation and leadership on the part of the County Chief Executive and his staff, and overwhelming generosity of the county, foundations, corporations and individual donors."
The Allegheny County Department of Economic Development will administer the Hurricane Ivan Business Relief Fund. Individuals interested in learning more about it should contact the department at 412-350-1198.
In an effort to support the longer-term housing rehabilitation needs of the community, Allegheny County has partnered with Hosanna Industries, a community organization which seeks to rehabilitate 500 homes over the course of a year, including refurbishing basements, removing debris and installing new walls, insulation and flooring.
The county has contributed $1 million in CDBG funds toward the program, which has also received more than $1.6 million in support from foundations, community organizations, churches, businesses and individuals.
Rehabilitation efforts are largely staffed by volunteers, and Chief Executive Onorato invites the community to assist Hosanna Industries in its efforts to rebuild the homes of families affected by Hurricane Ivan.
Volunteers may provide construction support, safety training, project oversight, hospitality and first aid, among other resources. Prospective volunteers should call the Department of Economic Development at 412-350-1087 for more information. Teams and groups are encouraged to sign up.
The Hurricane Ivan Business Relief Fund and Hurricane Ivan Home Relief Program are part of a series of efforts that have been made countywide in response to the September disaster.
Onorato acknowledged the wide range of private donations of cash, goods and services the foundations have given throughout the entire flood-recovery process. "We are very fortunate to have such strong philanthropic and community support for the programs we announced today, as well as other flood-recovery initiatives throughout the region," Onorato said. "It has been a true community-wide response."
# # # #
Flood
cleanup to create 79 jobs
Federally funded program to provide workers to municipalities
in need of additional assistance
Sunday, December 05, 2004
By Jan Ackerman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
With money provided by the U.S. Department of Labor, workers soon will be hired to clean up tree limbs, furniture, old tires and all sorts of other things strewn along creek banks after the Sept. 17 flooding.
In Allegheny County, Goodwill Industries of Pittsburgh is administering a $1.36 million grant that is expected to produce 79 temporary jobs over the next nine months. Workers, paid $10 an hour, will be dispatched to municipalities that need extra help with the cleanup.
David Reason, Goodwill's project manager for the effort, said the first work crew should be on board by this week and probably would be dispatched to West Deer and then Bridgeville.
"I have been out to those sites and those folks seem to have quite significant problems," Reason said.
Lori Collins, Bridgeville Borough manager, said the municipality asked for assistance to clean the banks of McLaughlin Run, which is strewn with downed trees and other debris.
"We only have six public works employees," said Collins, who manages the 1.1-square-mile borough of 5,341 people. "It is a large job ... beyond the realm of our manpower."
The money to hire the temporary workers comes from a $10.4 million National Emergency Grant from the Labor Department for 46 counties in Pennsylvania. U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced the grant at a news conference in Etna in October.
Stream banks aren't the only type of cleanup the workers could do.
"What is principally fair game is anything that is damaged or reconstructed, work for municipal properties," Reason said.
Goodwill spokeswoman Sheila Holt said the scheduled projects involved the cleanup of 35 to 40 miles of stream banks in Allegheny County. She said there were many others that probably need to be cleaned as well.
In addition to West Deer and Bridgeville, stream banks will be cleaned in Harmar, Carnegie, Leet, Etna, McCandless, Harrison, East Deer, Sharpsburg, Millvale, South Fayette, Shaler and Franklin Park.
"These are labor jobs. By their nature, it is outdoor work," said Reason, who added that, by the time workers are hired and the program gears up, it will be the dead of winter.
Reason said residents of flood-torn communities who know of flood-related problems on public property should contact their local municipalities or call him at 412-670-7189.
The temporary employees can work a maximum of 1,040 hours or earn $12,000, whichever comes first.
Holt said people who became unemployed because their workplaces were flooded by the remnants of Hurricane Ivan would be given top priority under the eligibility requirements of the Workforce Investment Act.
Others who could qualify for the work are those who have been unemployed for 15 of the past 26 weeks.
Before workers can be hired, they have to undergo a physical examination and a drug test and participate in an orientation program at Goodwill's South Side offices on East Carson Street.
In Allegheny County, Goodwill held some recruiting meetings last month and attracted about 200 potential workers.
Of those who applied, 31 applicants made it through the eligibility screening.
Job applicants must document that they meet the criteria. Comprehensive CareerLink Centers in Robinson, Downtown Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Alle-Kiski are doing eligibility screenings.
More information about the flood
cleanup jobs is available from Jay Poliziani, Goodwill's director
of admissions, at 412-390-2263.
(Jan Ackerman can be reached at jackerman@post-gazette.com or
412-263-1370.)
Pennsylvania
businesses will get tax relief from hurricane disaster-related
unemployment compensation costs
HARRISBURG: Secretary of Labor & Industry
Stephen M. Schmerin today announced that employers will be able
to request relief from charges to their unemployment compensation
accounts for costs related to tropical depressions and hurricanes
Frances and Ivan.
“Businesses and other employers who saw their facilities
destroyed or extensively damaged by these disasters have already
much to overcome in resuming their operations and calling people
back to work,” Schmerin said. “They should not have
to face higher UC taxes in future years because of benefit costs
directly related to the September storms and flooding, so we are
granting them tax relief for disaster-related unemployment benefits.”
Normally, unemployment costs for UC benefits paid to employees
who lose work are charged to an employer’s account and included
in determining the next year’s state UC tax rate.
Under the Pennsylvania UC law, relief from UC charges may be granted
where an employee was out of work due to cessation of business
activities for 18 months or less, caused by a disaster.
Affected employers must apply to the state Labor & Industry
Department for relief from charges. Information is available by
calling 717-787-4677, or online at www.state.pa.us, enter “relief
from charges” in the “Subject Search” field.
Pa.
to cover towns' share of $264 million Ivan bill
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
By Bill Toland, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
HARRISBURG -- Gov. Ed Rendell today said damages from the Sept. 17 Hurricane Ivan rains and subsequent flooding would top $264 million in Pennsylvania, but he said that municipalities wouldn't have to provide their own matching funds to be eligible for federal disaster aid.
The state expects that 75 percent of the damage estimate, $226 million, will be covered by federal disaster funding. The remaining 25 percent, or about $38 million, will be covered by the state. In years past, the state would have contributed 22 percent, and municipalities the remaining 3 percent, in order to receive the federal funds.
Of the flood relief money, about $140 million of it will be dedicated to individuals and businesses. The deadline to request a share of that money is Nov. 18. People interested in collecting flood relief money should call the Department of Public Welfare or the state's flood relief hotline at 1-800-621-3362.
An additional $100 million will be dedicated to government-owned property, both state and local. The same 75-25, federal-state split applies to these funds.
Rendell said about $24 million will be made available for "hazard mitigation" -- straightening or deepening creeks, building levies and buying homes that have been built in flood plains.
U.S.
grant goes to create 672 jobs in flood cleanup
Friday, October 22, 2004
By Jan Ackerman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao used a flood-damaged Etna business as the setting to announce a $10.4 million national emergency grant to the state that will be used to create 672 temporary disaster cleanup jobs for unemployed workers.
But whether displaced workers in Etna will benefit from the program is anybody's guess.
"If it doesn't help us, it will help someone," said Al Sarver, chief executive officer of Industrial Machine Works Inc. on Grant Avenue, where yesterday's news conference was held.
Sarver laid off 30 of his 38 employees because of last month's flooding and they are collecting unemployment compensation. Some have come back as volunteers to help Sarver get his business back up to speed.
Chao said the grant money will be spread among 46 Pennsylvania counties that the Federal Emergency Management Agency declared eligible for flood relief because of damages incurred when Hurricane Ivan swept through the region Sept. 17. Potentially, that averages out to 14.6 temporary jobs per county.
She was joined by Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., and Rep. Melissa Hart, R-Bradford Woods.
Chao said the emergency grant is one of three funding streams being made available by the Labor Department for those who lost their jobs because of the floods. She said workers can apply for unemployment compensation or disaster unemployment assistance, as Sarver's employees did.
The money was awarded to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry to provide jobs that will typically last about six months on projects that supply food, clothing, shelter and other humanitarian assistance for disaster victims.
The Labor Department said the money will pay salaries for workers who will help with demolition, renovation and reconstruction of destroyed public structures, facilities and lands. It also can be used to assist with supportive services, such as job-related transportation, work equipment and child care.
"We want to make sure that workers have everything they need to take care of themselves so they can take care of you and your communities as you recover and rebuild," Chao said.
She urged displaced workers to contact their nearest CareerLink Center to see whether they qualify for any of the three programs. There are 77 such centers in Pennsylvania.
Counties in Western Pennsylvania that are eligible include Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Clarion, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Washington and Westmoreland.
To find the closest CareerLink Center, call 1-877-872-5627 or visit www.servicelocator.org.
(Jan Ackerman can be reached at jackerman@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1370.)
GOVERNOR RENDELL COMMITS STATE FUNDING, DETAILS FLOOD RELIEF OPTIONS FOR VICTIMS
HARRISBURG: Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced that rather
than requiring local governments to contribute any funds toward
their eligible costs, the Commonwealth is committing to cover
the entire 25 percent of the state/local share of disaster assistance,
as opposed to the 22 percent formula utilized in past disaster
events. Total damage estimates from Tropical Depression Ivan are
estimated to top $264 million across 54 counties declared federal
disaster areas. State flood disaster assistance will top more
than $38 million with the federal government contributing about
$226 million.
“Because of the Commonwealth’s speedy disaster declarations,
the federal government will provide the aid necessary to rebuild
and restore economic and social health to the more than 20,000
victims and 2,000 communities affected by the storm,” said
Governor Rendell. “The state will fully fund the 25 percent
local share sparing smaller communities the tough choice between
rebuilding and abandoning their communities to get Pennsylvanians
back on their feet.”
The state’s matching funds in the amount of $7 million will
be made available by the Department of Public Welfare to provide
assistance to those with losses resulting from Tropical Depression
Ivan. An additional $133 million for individuals will be provided
by the federal government.
With losses estimated at $100 million for state and local government
owned property, the federal share of Public Assistance losses
will be $75 million. The Commonwealth and local governments are
responsible for the remaining funds. Local projects comprise $17.5
million while Commonwealth projects are estimated at $7.5 million.
Governor Rendell also said an estimated $24 million will be made
available for hazard mitigation. Of that amount, the federal share
is 75 percent or $18 million. The state/local government’s
share is typically 25 percent or $6 million. However, as in the
case of Public Assistance, Governor Rendell has committed to the
Commonwealth covering the entire cost in order to further assist
local governments. Savings to local governments will be estimated
to be nearly $720,000.
Governor Rendell approved the state’s share of 25 percent
to assist many local governments that are challenged and continuously
struggle with everyday budgets.
“My Administration understands that many local governments
throughout Pennsylvania already have pressing matters that squeeze
their budgets on a daily basis,” Governor Rendell said. “Collectively,
this will save our partners in local government more than $2.8
million.”
More than 2,000 businesses were affected by the devastation caused
by the tropical depression, and during the press conference Governor
Rendell encouraged flood-damaged businesses to teleregister for
the SBA loan program. Businesses have until Nov. 17 to teleregister
at 1-800-621-3362.
Governor Rendell also announced that for those businesses approved
for participation in the SBA loan program (with 2.9 percent interest),
the Department of Community and Economic Development will provide
Opportunity Grant funds that will effectively mitigate the SBA
interest rate charged on loans. Specifically, the Department will
calculate the interest payment on the SBA loan and provide a grant
to the business to make an effective interest rate of 0 percent.
The businesses will be able to use the Opportunity Grant funds
for working capital costs.
“My Administration is particularly concerned about the business
districts in certain of the Commonwealth’s smaller, harder
hit communities,” Governor Rendell said. “After speaking
with Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, we are concerned
that individual businesses in these communities might somehow
slip through the cracks in terms of efforts to facilitate their
recovery, since many of these businesses may be ineligible for
loans due to an inability to repay.
“Collectively, such businesses function as the economic lifeblood
of these towns, and their non-recovery may result in certain downtown
areas effectively becoming deserted. I therefore am asking Secretary
Yablonsky and DCED to pay particular attention to these communities
and identify programs that will help in the recovery of their
small businesses.”
The Governor also detailed Department of General Services’
Federal Surplus Purchasing Program for Flood Damaged Municipalities
to help with heavy equipment and supplies to assist with cleanup
and reconstruction efforts. While the equipment and supplies are
free, local governments must still pay a fee to cover transportation
and administrative costs. All equipment requests are subject to
availability, and will be limited to only those equipment and
supplies needed for recovery efforts related to Tropical Depression
Ivan.
“For small communities, especially those recovering from
Tropical Depression Ivan, these fees can be substantial and often
cost-prohibitive,” Governor Rendell said. “Therefore,
I am directing DGS to eliminate its federal surplus property fee
for the 54 Pennsylvania counties declared a federal disaster by
Tropical Depression Ivan and that DGS expedite surplus property
requests.”
The Governor also announced that the Pennsylvania Department of
Labor & Industry was granted a $10.4 million Disaster National
Emergency Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to provide temporary
employment -- up to six months -- for 672 workers who lost their
jobs as a result of the recent hurricanes.
Under the grant, workers will be paid to perform such jobs as
demolition, cleaning, repair, renovation and reconstruction of
damaged and destroyed public structures, facilities and lands
located within the designated disaster areas. Funds will be distributed
through Local Workforce Investment Areas.
“While this is only a temporary measure to provide paychecks
to workers, it benefits them greatly in times of desperation,”
Governor Rendell said. “Those providing for their families
should not be forgotten.”
Governor Rendell is also sending a letter to Pennsylvania’s
Congressional Delegation asking support for changes in existing
federal law and a supplemental appropriation in support of flood
repairs that fall outside of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency such as hazard mitigation, stream restoration and roadway
damage.
Tips
on Cleaning Up Your Home or Business
Even though these
articles refer to "home", the information applies to
any building that has been damaged by flooding, including businesses.
How
to Dry Out Your Home (or business)
This article outlines the most
complete process for drying out buildings which have been soaked
with flood water, including removal of debris and treatment of
walls, floors and woodwork.
DOWNLOAD
AS A PDF (120KB)
What
Do I Do About Mold in My Home (or business)
This article describes the health
effects of mold, how to find it and clean it up.
DOWNLOAD
AS A PDF (157KB)
Be patient. Drying out could take several weeks. Until your building is reasonably dry, damage caused by mildew and decay will continue. The musty odor will stay forever if your building is not dried out well.
FIRST FOLLOW THESE TIPS
AS YOU CLEAN UP!
Contacts: Ali Detar, 412-350-3171
Guillermo Cole, 412-578-8004
Ashley Henry, 412-350-5859
ALLEGHENY COUNTY OFFERS MOLD PREVENTION, CONTROL TIPS
PITTSBURGH, PA, Sept. 27, 2004
- The Allegheny County Health Department is offering the following
advice for dealing with mold issues arising
from recent flooding.
*Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, as well as irritation to the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs of non-allergic people.
* To prevent the growth of mold, dry out wet or damp areas as quickly as possible and keep humidity levels down. Open windows and doors to let in fresh air and sunlight. Use fans, de-humidifiers and air conditioners to help dry out flooded and damp environments.
* Scrub mold off hard surfaces with commercial cleaning products or detergent and water; then disinfect the surfaces with a solution of ¼ cup of bleach to one gallon of water.
* Make sure hard surfaces have completely dried after cleaning before painting or caulking them. Even after cleaning hard surfaces, mold may cause staining or cosmetic damage.
* Absorbent or porous materials, such as carpet, upholstery and ceiling tiles, that become moldy may have to be thrown away. Mold can grow on or fill in the empty spaces and crevices of porous materials, so the mold may be difficult or impossible to remove completely.
* To limit your exposure when cleaning moldy areas, wear a tight-fitting facemask, rubber gloves that extend to the middle of the forearm and goggles to protect your eyes.
* In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, testing or sampling is unnecessary.
* If you use a contractor for mold cleanup and remediation, be sure to ask for and check references. Look for contractors who are affiliated with professional organization.
TIPS ON CLEAN UP FROM THE
ALLEGHENY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Allegheny County Health Department
Bruce Dixon, MD, Director
How
To Dry Out Your Home (or business)
Floodwaters affect a
house in 3 ways:
1. The water damages materials. Wallboard will disintegrate if
it stays wet too long; wood can swell, warp, or rot; electrical
parts can short out, malfunction, and cause fires or shock.
2. Mud, silt, and unknown contaminants in the water not only get
everything dirty; they are also unhealthy.
3. Dampness promotes the growth of mildew, a mold or fungus that
can grow on everything.
The following steps work on
all three of these problems. It is very important to do these
steps in order.
Lower the Humidity
Everything will dry more quickly and clean more easily if
you can reduce the humidity in the house. There are many ways
to lower the humidity and stop the rot and mildew. But you’ll
have to delay using some methods if you have no electricity.
• Open up the house. If the humidity outside is lower than
it is indoors, and if the weather permits, open all the doors
and windows to exchange the moist indoor air for drier outdoor
air. Your body will tell you if the humidity is lower outdoors.
If the sun is out, it should be drier outside. If you have a thermometer
with a humidity gauge, you can monitor the indoor and outdoor
humidity. On the other hand, when temperatures drop at night,
an open house is warmer and will draw moisture indoors. At night,
and at other times when the humidity is higher outdoors, close
up the house.
• Open closet and cabinet doors. Remove drawers to let air
circulate. Drawers may stick because of swelling. Don’t try
to force them. Help them dry by opening up the back of the cabinet
so air can get into it. You will probably be able to remove the
drawers as the cabinet dries out.
• Use fans. Fans help move the air and dry out your home.
Do not use central air conditioning or the furnace blower if the
ducts were under water. They will blow out dirty air that might
contain contaminants from the sediment left in the ductwork. Clean
or hose out the ducts first.
• Run dehumidifiers. Dehumidifiers and window air conditioners
will reduce the moisture, especially in closed-up areas.
• Use desiccants. Desiccants (materials that absorb moisture)
are very useful in drying closets or other closed areas where
air cannot move through. Desiccants like those listed below are
usually available at hardware, grocery, or drug stores.
• Chemical dehumidifier packs used for drying boats and damp
closets.
• Cat litter made of clay.
• Calcium chloride pellets (used to melt ice in the winter).
Hang pellets in a pillowcase, nylon stocking, or other porous
bag. Put a bucket underneath to catch dripping water. Close the
closet or area being dried. Be careful. Calcium chloride can burn
your skin. It will also make the air salty, so do not use this
product near computers or other delicate equipment.
• Call a contractor. There are contractors who specialize
in drying out flooded buildings. They have large fans and dehumidifiers
that can dry out a house in a few days. Look in the yellow pages
under Fire and Water Damage Restoration or under Dehumidifying.
Be careful about contractors who inflate prices after a disaster
and about out-of-town contractors who request payment in advance.
Be patient. Drying your house could take several weeks. Until
your house is reasonably dry, damage caused by mildew and decay
will continue. The musty odor will stay forever if the house is
not dried out well.
Sort Contents and Discard
Debris
You have three types
of contents. They should go to three different places:
- Items you want to save
- Items to be thrown out
- Garbage
Things You Want to Save
Move things you want to save to a safe, dry place, such as the
second story or outside. The longer they sit in water, the more
damaged they become. Don’t leave wood furniture in the sun
because it will warp as it dries. To save an area rug, lay a sheet
or some other material on top of it before you roll it up so the
colors will not bleed. Clean it promptly.
Things You Don’t Want to Save
Put things you don’t want to save outside to dry until he
adjuster comes to confirm your losses. Take pictures or videotapes
and list each item for the record.
Garbage
Get rid of food and anything else that could spoil or go bad immediately.
Do not let garbage build up. Garbage piles will cause yet another
health hazard by attracting animals and insects. If your insurance
adjuster has not come, tell your agent or adjuster that you need
to get rid of potential health hazards. That person will tell
you how to make sure that your losses are covered. Then throw
the stuff out, preferably in sealed plastic garbage bags.
Do not take chances with frozen food if the electricity went off unless the food is still thoroughly frozen and contains ice crystals. As a rule, food will remain frozen for up to 3 days in a closed freezer without power. Do not refreeze thawed food. However, you can cook raw meat that was partially thawed and then freeze it.
Dispose of discarded items properly. Do not burn or bury them. There will usually be more frequent garbage pickups after a flood. Your local newspapers or local TV and radio stations will have announcements about trash pickup schedules and drop-off sites.
How Floodwaters Affect Your
Home
Once contents and debris have been cleared, the next step is to
get the water out of the ceilings and walls. How you drain and
dry your ceilings and walls depends on what they are made of.
Wallboard
Most ceilings and walls are covered with wallboard, especially
in newer homes. Wallboard acts like a sponge, drawing water up
above the flood level. It becomes very fragile if it stays wet
for long and will fall apart when bumped. When the wallboard finally
dries, there will still be mud and contaminants dried inside.
Wallboard that has been soaked by floodwater can be a permanent
health hazard. Therefore, this booklet recommends that you throw
out flooded wallboard. On the other hand, if the wallboard was
soaked by clean rainwater, it can be dried in place with plenty
of fresh air moving through the area.
Plaster
Plaster will survive a flood better than wallboard. You should
not need to replace it, but it will take a very long time to dry.
Sometimes the plaster will separate from its wood laths as it
dries. Then the wall will have to be removed and replaced.
Insulation
There are three main types of insulation, and each reacts differently
to floodwaters. Styrofoam survives best; it may only need to be
hosed off. Fiberglass batts should be thrown out if they are muddy.
If soaked by clean rainwater, remove them so the rest of the wall
can dry. They can be put back in the wall, but it will take a
very long time for them to dry. Cellulose (loose or blown-in treated
paper) insulation holds water for a long time. It can also lose
its anti-fungal and fire retardant abilities. Therefore, flooded
cellulose insulation should be replaced.
Wood
If it is allowed to dry naturally, wood will usually regain its
original shape. Different layers of laminated wood, such as plywood,
may dry at different rates, and that may cause the layers to separate.
Some contaminants will stay in the wood after it dries, but not
as much as stays in flooded wallboard. Wood studs and sills will
be covered by new wallboard and painted, so they are well removed
from human contact. Therefore, wet wood studs and sills do not
need to be replaced if they are allowed to dry properly.
Drain the Ceilings and Walls
Ceilings
Check for sagging ceilings. Drain them carefully. If the floodwaters
went above your ceiling, you should replace it if it is made of
wallboard. A plaster ceiling will dry eventually, but if it has
too many cracks or sags, you will have to tear it down and replace
it. Remove any wet insulation in the ceiling to allow the joists
to dry.
Walls
Remove water trapped within your walls. To check for water, take
off the baseboard. Stick an awl or knife into the wall about 2
inches above the floor (just above the 2 x 4 wood sill plate).
If water drips out, cut or drill a hole large enough to allow
water to drain freely. (Use a hand or cordless drill or saw to
avoid shock.) If you are going to replace the wallboard anyway,
you don’t have to be neat: use a hammer to knock out a hole.
If your walls are plaster, a knife won’t penetrate them.
Drill a hole above the sill plate to drain the water. (Use a hand
or cordless drill to avoid shock.) Do not use a hammer or chisel
on plaster because the plaster could shatter. In a newer home,
you may have metal sill plates. A metal sill acts as a gutter
at the bottom of the wall cavity. Drill a hole at floor level
to drain the water, using a hand or cordless drill.
Repeat the process to drain all the wall cavities. Depending on
the spacing between studs in your walls, make a hole every 16
inches or every 24 inches. Watch out for the wiring, which is
usually at the same height as your electrical outlets. If there
is wet insulation, you will have to remove the wallboard in order
to take out all the insulation.
Dry the Ceilings and Walls
Flood-soaked wallboard should be removed and thrown away. Plaster
and paneling can often be saved, but you still need to get air
circulating in the wall cavities to dry the studs and sills. Different
approaches are used for different materials.
Wallboard
If dirty floodwaters soaked the wallboard at least 4 feet above
the floor, take down all the wallboard and replace it. If the
water was less than 4 feet deep, remove the lower 4 feet of wallboard.
You can fill the gap with new 4 ft. x 8 ft. Wallboard sheets installed
sideways. If you have Styrofoam insulation ---or no insulation---and
the wallboard was soaked with clean rainwater, you can dry the
walls without removing the wallboard by using the technique explained
below for plaster walls. But you will need to remove wet insulation
if it is not Styrofoam.
Plaster Walls
If the plaster or wallboard is clean and in good shape, you can
drill or cut ventilating holes in each wall cavity. Place holes
low enough so they will be covered by the baseboard after the
wall dries out. Open up the wall on both sides of interior walls.
For exterior walls, drill or cut holes only on the inside of the
house. However, if there is wet insulation, you will have to remove
the plaster or wallboard in order to take out all the insulation.
Concrete Block
The cavities in a concrete block wall will drain on their own.
The water will not damage the concrete like it will wood or wallboard.
Wall Covering
Vinyl wall covering seals the wall and keeps it from drying out.
Wallpaper paste is also a favorite home for mold and mildew. For
these reasons, you should remove all wall covering that got wet
and throw it out. (If vinyl wall covering is loose on the bottom,
you may be able to save it by pulling it off the wall up to the
flood level. Clean and reapply it after everything dries).
Paneling
Carefully pry the bottom of each panel away from the wall Use
something to hold the bottom away from the sill so the cavities
can drain and dry out. You can nail them back into shape after
they and the studs dry out. However, if there is wet insulation,
you will have to remove the paneling in order to take out all
the insulation.
Dry the Floor
Air needs to move around flooded floors so they can dry out. This
usually means that you must remove the floor covering. Because
floodwaters contain mud and dirt, most soaked floor coverings
should be thrown away. Keep a piece of all discarded floor covering
so the adjuster can tell its value. Air needs to circulate below
the floor to dry it out. If the crawl space of your house in flooded,
pump it out. Remove any plastic sheets, vapor barriers, or insulation
from underneath the floor. (Be sure to replace them when the floor
and foundation are completely dry.)
If a house with a basement was flooded over the first floor, remove finished basement ceilings, or cut or drill holes between all the joists to allow circulation. Don’t cut or drill near electric lines or pipes. You have now reached the stage where your home should be protected from further damage. Outside holes have been patched, the utilities have been turned off, and the drying process has started. It may take days or weeks, depending on the humidity, for all the wood and walls to dry out. Patience now will prevent you having to do everything over again.
Mold
in My Home: What Do I Do?
This packet is meant
to provide basic information to people who have experienced water
damage to their home and resulting mold concerns. It describes
health concerns related to mold
exposure, and it also provides general guidelines on prevention,
mold detection, as well as
cleanup of mold-contaminated materials.
MOLD
What are molds?
Molds are simple, microscopic organisms, present virtually everywhere,
indoors and outdoors. Molds,
along with mushrooms and yeasts, are fungi and are needed to break
down dead material and recycle
nutrients in the environment. For molds to grow and reproduce,
they need only a food source – any
organic material, such as leaves, wood, paper, or dirt— and
moisture. Because molds grow by digesting
the organic material, they gradually destroy whatever they grow
on. Sometimes, new molds grow on old
mold colonies. Mold growth on surfaces can often be seen in the
form of discoloration, frequently green,
gray, brown, or black but also white and other colors. Molds release
countless tiny, lightweight spores,
which travel through the air.
How am I exposed to indoor molds?
Everyone is exposed to some mold on a daily basis without evident
harm. It is common to find mold
spores in the air inside homes, and most of the airborne spores
found indoors come from outdoor
sources. Mold spores primarily cause health problems when they
are present in large numbers and
people inhale many of them. This occurs primarily when there is
active mold growth within home, office
or school where people live or work. People can also be exposed
to mold by touching contaminated
materials and by eating contaminated foods.
Can mold become a problem in my home?
Molds will grow and multiply whenever conditions are right—sufficient
moisture is available and organic
material is present. Be on the lookout in your home for common
sources of indoor moisture that may lead
to mold problems:
• Leaky roofs • Damp basements and crawl spaces
• Permeable foundations • Steam from cooking or showers
• Plumbing leaks • Dryers not exhausted to outside
• Overflows and backups from sinks and sewers • Humidifiers
Warping floors and discoloration of walls and ceilings can be
indications of moisture problems.
Condensation on windows or walls is also an important indication,
but it can sometimes be caused by an
indoor combustion problem! Have fuel-burning appliances routinely
inspected by your local utility
or a professional heating contractor.
Should I be concerned about mold in my home?
Yes. If indoor mold contamination is extensive, it can cause very
high and persistent airborne spore
exposures. Persons exposed to high spore levels can become sensitized
and develop allergies to the
mold or other health problems. Mold growth can damage your furnishings,
such as carpets, sofas and
cabinets. Clothes and shoes in damp closets can become soiled
and stained. In time, unchecked mold
growth can cause serious damage to the structural elements in
your home.
HEALTH EFFECTS
What symptoms are commonly seen with mold exposure?
Molds produce health effects through inflammation, allergy, or
infection. Allergic reactions (often referred
to as hay fever) are most common following mold exposure. Typical
symptoms that mold-exposed
persons report (alone or in combination) include:
• Respiratory problems, such as wheezing, difficulty breathing,
and shortness of breath.
• Nasal and sinus congestion
• Eye irritation (burning, watery, or reddened eyes
• Dry, hacking cough
• Skin rashes or irritation
• Nose and throat irritation
Headaches, memory problems, mood swings, nosebleeds, body aches
and pains, and fevers are
occasionally reported in mold cases, but their cause is not understood.
How much mold can make me sick?
It depends. For some people, a relatively small number of mold
spores can trigger an asthma attack or
lead to other health problems. For other persons, symptoms may
occur only when exposure levels are
much higher. Nonetheless, indoor mold growth is unsanitary and
undesirable. Basically, if you can see or
smell mold inside your home, take steps to identify and eliminate
the excess moisture and to cleanup
and remove the mold.
Are some molds more hazardous than others?
Allergic persons vary in their sensitivities to mold, both as
to the amount and the types to which they
react. In addition to their allergic properties, certain types
of molds, such as Stachybotris chartarum
(atra), may produce compounds that have toxic properties, which
are called mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are
not always produced, and whether a mold produces mycotoxins while
growing in a building depends on
what the mold is growing on, conditions such as temperature, pH,
humidity or other unknown factors.
When mycotoxins are present, they occur in both living and dead
mold spores and may be present in
materials that have become contaminated with molds. While Stachybotrys
is growing, a wet slime layer
covers its spores, preventing them from becoming airborne. However,
when the mold dies and dries up,
air currents or physical handling can cause spores to become airborne.
At present there is no environmental test to determine whether
Stachybotrys growth found in buildings is
producing toxins. There is also no blood or urine test that can
establish if an individual has been exposed
to Stachybotrys chartarum (atra) spores or its toxins.
Who is at greater risk when exposed to mold?
Exposure to mold is not healthy for anyone inside buildings. Therefore,
it is always best to identify and
correct high moisture conditions quickly before mold grows and
health problems develop. Some people
may have more severe symptoms or become ill more rapidly than
others:
• Individuals with existing respiratory conditions, such
as allergies, chemical sensitivities, or asthma.
• Persons with weakened immune systems (such as people with
HIV infection, cancer chemotherapy
patients, and so forth)
• Infants and young children
• The elderly
Anyone with health problems they believe due to molds should consult
a medical professional.
DETECTION OF MOLD
How can I tell if I have mold in my house?
You may suspect that you have mold if you see discolored patches
or cottony or speckled growth on
walls or furniture or if you smell an earthy or musty odor. You
also may suspect mold contamination if
mold-allergic individuals experience some of the symptoms listed
above when in the house. Evidence of
past or ongoing water damage should also trigger more thorough
inspection. You may find mold growth
underneath water-damaged surfaces or behind walls, floors or ceilings.
Should I test my home for mold?
Testing is not recommended as a first step to determine if you
have a mold problem. Reliable air
sampling for mold can be expensive and requires expertise and
equipment that is not available to the
general public. Owners of individual private homes and apartment
generally will need to pay a contractor
to carry out such sampling, because insurance companies and public
health agencies seldom provide
this service. Mold inspection and cleanup is usually considered
a housekeeping task that is the
responsibility of homeowner or landlord, as are roof and plumbing
repairs, house cleaning, and yard
maintenance.
Another reason the health department does not recommend testing
for mold contamination is that there
are few available standards for judging what is an acceptable
quantity of mold. In all locations, there is
some level of airborne mold outdoors. If sampling is carried out
in a home, an outdoor air sample also
must be collected at the same time as the indoor samples, to provide
a baseline measurement. Because
individual susceptibility varies so greatly, sampling is at best
a general guide.
The simplest way to deal with a suspicion of mold contamination
is: If you can see or smell mold, you
likely have a problem and should take the steps outlined below.
Mold growth is likely to recur unless the
source of moisture that is allowing mold to grow is removed and
the contaminated area is cleaned.
GENERAL CLEAN-UP PROCEDURES
The following is intended as an overview for homeowners or apartment
dwellers. We recommend that
you consult one of several more thorough documents currently available
as guidance, listed in the
USEFUL PUBLICATIONS section at the end of this article.
Elements of the Clean-up Procedures
• Identify and eliminate sources of moisture.
• Identify and assess the magnitude and area of mold contamination
• Clean and dry moldy areas – use containment of affected
areas
• Bag and dispose of all material that may have moldy residues,
such as rags, paper, leaves.
Assessing the Size of the Mold Problem
There will be a significant difference in the approach used for
a small mold problem – total area affected
is less than 10 ft2 – and a large contamination problem –
more than 100 ft2. In the case of a relatively
small area, the cleanup can be handled by the homeowner or maintenance
staff, using personal
protective equipment (see below). However, for cases of much larger
areas, it is advisable that an
experienced, professional contractor be used. For in-between sized
cases, the type of containment and
personal protection equipment to be used will be a matter of judgment.
Can cleaning up mold be hazardous to my health?
Yes. During the cleaning process, you may be exposed to mold,
strong detergents, and disinfectants.
Spore counts may be 10 to 1000 times higher than background levels
when mold-contaminated
materials are disturbed. Take steps to protect you and your family’s
health during cleanup:
• When handling or cleaning moldy materials, it is important
to use a respirator to protect yourself from
inhaling airborne spores.
Respirators can be purchased from hardware stores; select one
that is effective for particle removal
(sometimes referred to as an N-95 particulate respirator). However,
respirators that remove particles will
not protect you from fumes (such as bleach). Minimize exposure
when using bleach or other
disinfectants by ensuring good ventilation of the area.
• Wear protective clothing that is easily cleaned or discarded.
• Use rubber gloves.
• Try cleaning a test area first. If you feel that this activity
adversely affected your health, you should
consider paying a licensed contractor or other experienced professional
to carry out the work.
• Ask family members or bystanders to leave areas that are
being cleaned.
• Work for short time periods and rest in a location with
fresh air.
• Air out your house well during and after the work.
Never use a gasoline engine indoors (e.g., water pump, pressure
washer or generator), as you could
expose your family to toxic carbon monoxide.
Removal of Moldy Materials
Clean up should begin after the moisture source is fixed and excess
water has been removed. Wear
gloves when handling moldy materials.
• Discard porous materials (for example, ceiling tiles, sheetrock,
carpeting, and wood products).
• Bag and discard moldy items; if properly enclosed, items
can be disposed with household trash.
• Dry affected areas for 2 or 3 days.
Spores are more easily released when moldy materials dry out,
hence it is advisable to remove moldy
items as soon as possible.
If there was flooding, sheetrock should be removed to a level
above the high-water mark. Visually
inspect the wall interior and remove any mold-contaminated materials.
What can I save? What should I toss?
You should discard moldy items that are porous and from which
it will be difficult to remove mold
completely: paper, rags, wallboard, rotten wood, carpet, drapes,
and upholstered furniture.
Contaminated carpet is often difficult to thoroughly clean, especially
when the backing and/or padding
can become moldy. Solid materials – glass, plastic, and metal
– can generally be kept after they are
thoroughly cleaned.
Clean-up
When attempting to clean less porous items (i.e., solid items
such as floors, cabinets, solid furniture), the
first step is to remove as much mold as possible. A cleaning detergent
is effective for this purpose.
Wear gloves, mask and eye protection when doing this cleanup.
• Use non-ammonia soap or detergent, or a commercial cleaner,
in hot water, and scrub the entire area
that is affected by the mold.
• Use a stiff brush or cleaning pad on cement-block walls
or other uneven surfaces.
• Rinse cleaned items with water and dry thoroughly. A wet/dry
vacuum cleaner is helpful for removing
water and cleaning items.
Disinfection of Contaminated Materials
Disinfecting agents can be toxic for humans, not just molds. They
should be used only when necessary
and should be handled with caution.
Disinfectants are intended to be applied to thoroughly cleaned
materials and are used to ensure that
most microorganisms have been killed. Therefore, do not use disinfectants
instead of, or before,
cleaning materials with soap or detergent. Removal of mold growth
from nonporous materials usually is
sufficient. Wear gloves, mask and eye protection when using disinfectants.
• After thoroughly cleaning and rinsing contaminated materials,
a solution of 10% household bleach (for
example, 1½ cup household bleach per gallon of water) can
be used as a disinfectant.
• Using bleach straight from the bottle is actually LESS
effective than diluted bleach.
• Keep the disinfectant on the treated material for the prescribed
time before rinsing or drying; typically
10 minutes is recommended for a bleach solution
• Bleach fumes can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, and
damage clothing and shoes. Make sure
working areas are well ventilated.
• When disinfecting a large structure, make sure that the
entire surface is wetted (for example, the floors,
joists, and posts).
• Properly collect and dispose extra disinfectant and runoff.
• Never mix bleach with ammonia; toxic fumes may be produced.
Can air ducts become contaminated with mold?
Yes. Air duct systems can become contaminated with mold. Duct
systems may be constructed of bare
sheet metal, sheet metal with fibrous glass insulation on the
exterior, or sheet metal with an internal
fibrous glass liner, or they may be made entirely of fibrous glass.
Bare sheet metal systems and sheet
metal with exterior fibrous glass insulation can be cleaned and
disinfected. If water damaged, ductwork
made of sheet metal with an internal fibrous glass liner or made
entirely of fibrous glass will often need to
be removed and discarded. Ductwork in difficult-to-reach locations
may have to be abandoned. If you
have other questions, contact an air duct cleaning professional
or licensed contractor.
Can ozone air cleaners help remove indoor mold or reduce odors?
Sometimes air cleaners are promoted to remove indoor mold or associated
odors, and some of these are
designed to produce ozone. Ozone is a strong oxidizing agent that
is used as a disinfectant in water and
sometimes to eliminate odors. However, ozone is a known lung irritant.
Ozone generators have been
shown to sometimes produce indoor levels above the safe limit.
Furthermore, it has been shown that
ozone is not effective in controlling molds and other microbial
contamination, even at concentrations far
above safe health levels. Also, ozone may damage materials in
the home, for example, cause rubber