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Flood Damage Treasure Coast

Proper Mold Remediation Involves Sealing Off Ventalation

Feb 11th, 2013
by Jarvis Team.
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Why Is Containment So Important During Mold Remediation

Containing Mold Contaminated Materials is Critical

Mold spores can pose a serious health threat to those exposed to the microscopic particles. The spores are the reproducing product of mold growth and can be thought of as the seeds that can spread the mold. The spores can also cause respiratory problems in people that have been exposed. Mold poses the greatest risk to people with compromised respiratory health. Mold contamination can occur after flooding, after a plumping leak or sewer backup or when building materials become wet from a roof leak.

Common symptoms for mold associated health problems include shortness of breath. More serious conditions occur when the mold spores develop into an infection within the lungs. Prompt medical treatment is urged whenever mold related respiratory problems are suspected.

Removing mold infected materials is critical to making a home safe for habitation. Hard surfaces, those that do not absorb moisture can be cleaned with a bleach mixture. Moisture absorbing materials, such as drywall, carpet and upholstered furniture most be removed from the home.

Place the moldy materials in a container that can be closed and sealed. Heavy-duty garbage bags work for lighter materials although a heavier container may be required for building materials such as drywall or wood. Workers handling the material should wear the proper masks while handling mold contaminated materials. Cleaners should also wear eye protection that seal against the skin of the face without ventilation holes and waterproof gloves that extend beyond the wrist.

Containing the mold contaminated materials until it can be safely disposed of is critical to keeping the home safe. Even after the moldy material is removed from the home it poses a risk until disposed if a landfill or other approved location.

Containment of the mold contaminated materials helps limit the potential exposure of people in and around the materials. Once the moldy materials are placed in the containment systems, those bags or boxes should be disturbed as little as possible. Movement of the boxes or bags can shake loose more of the spores and create additional chances for inhalation hazards by people around the containment bags.

Few bagging or containment systems are completely airtight and some potential for mold spores escaping always exists. For this reason, it is always recommended that the containment bags or boxes be removed from the home as soon as possible. In some areas, mold contaminated materials most be disposed of by an approved contractor. In other areas, the containment bags or boxes can be disposed of with the normal trash.

The mold cleanup process is generally considered complete when all hard surfaces have been decontaminated and sanitized and absorbent materials that have become infested with mold have been removed from the premises.

Coastal Flooding Impact, and how to prevent it

Jul 6th, 2011
by Jarvis Team.
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Coastal flood is a common recurrence in many parts of the world. It has been seen that excess water ravages the adjoining land and the interior following cyclones, hurricanes, tsunamis, snow melts and dam bursting. People who have lived along the coastal areas are more at danger due to the high possibility of flooding. Needless to say coastal flooding can run amok lives and property in minutes. Weak sea coasts are not able to handle the rising sea water, which easily submerges the nearby areas.

Impact of coastal flooding:

Due to coastal floods, apart from loss of life and accidents; there can be the following effects:

1. Coastal erosion which can destroy the lands and its facilities
2. Chronic loss of land combined with annihilation of coastal sediments, which can inherently prevent floods
3. Nearby construction activity is affected due to coastal erosion.
4. Damage to adjoining property and flooding caused due to impact of storms that give rise to steep waves.
5. Scarcity of land created due to coastal erosion and flooding
6. Depletion of environmental resources like fertile land, oyster beds etc.

Over the last few years, we have seen that severe storms, hurricanes and tsunamis have given rise to coastal flooding that has inundated lands. These flood events can be short-term or long-term but in both cases, there can be considerable water damage, mold growth, destruction of property and loss of life. The deadliest incident of coastal flooding was in 1931 in China, where millions were killed. This happened when the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers was flood and spilled over to the land, killing four millions who died from drowning as well as from contamination, starvation and disease. Then, there is also an incident in Hallisands, in Devon, England of a hurricane that washed away the entire village in just 16 hours.

To prevent coastal flooding from gaining momentum and cause considerable damage, here are the few things that can be done.

1. Seawalls: Seawalls can provide short-term protection from erosion. Of course, the sand used to form them can eventually deteriorate and the authorities must be responsible enough to replace them. Their construction on a consistent basis can allow these buildings to continue without being affected.

2. Codes for buildings: Buildings and houses near the coast must be built with specific materials that can withstand coastal flooding. This means property owners have to consent to have their homes and offices built; adhering to these materials with features like slits and flood elevations.

3. Flood Insurance: Apart from the above two preventative steps, it is also important to have homes and offices near flood prone zones to have a flood insurance. The US government has a provision for this, especially for the homeowners in the coastal flood zones to purchase flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program.

4. Banning building homes near the coast: This can guarantee that there is no loss to life and property due to coastal floods, but such bans are not implemented usually because municipalities cannot enforce these bans at the cost of affecting personal property rights. In some cases, the proactive municipal corporations do go ahead and sweeten the ban by buying these areas and using it as parks and open spaces.