As school districts affected by Hurricane Irene begin to return to normal, clean up efforts continue for those hit hardest by the storm.
Although the floodwaters have receded, the
Capital Region BOCES Health/Safety/Risk Management Service is now
helping address another concern of schools that sustained heavy
water damage: mold.
Risk Management staff have advised schools to follow the
Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) guidelines for
clean up following a flood. Removing the
source of water is the first step followed by eliminating materials
that have gotten wet or are porous.
“We’ve advised school staff that the best way to minimize the potential for mold and future indoor air quality issues is to dry and clean all non-porous surfaces, still many porous items—paper, fabric furniture, drywall—should be removed or thrown away,” said Health/Safety/Risk Management Program Manager Kristin Bucciferro.
The EPA recommends the following:
Remove
and discard items that cannot be washed and disinfected (such as,
mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture,
books, wall coverings, and paper products).
Remove
and discard porous materials, such as wallpaper, drywall and
insulation that is contaminated or has been damp for more than 48
hours.
Clean
all hard surfaces (such as flooring, concrete, molding, wood and
metal furniture, countertops, appliances, sinks, and other plumbing
fixtures) thoroughly with hot water and laundry or dish detergent.
Open
windows and doors to help the drying-out process, weather
permitting.
Use
fans and dehumidifiers to remove excess moisture. Fans should be
placed at a window or door to blow the air outwards to prevent the
spread of mold.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), mold grows year-round and can be found anywhere
that levels of humidity and moisture are high. For example, indoors
mold can be found basements, kitchens, bathrooms and on ceilings and
wall interiors where water from leaky pipes, roofs or windows has
accumulated.
The CDC emphasizes that most molds pose no threat to humans. The CDC
does caution, however, that certain molds can produce hay fever-like
allergic symptoms, especially for those sensitive to it. For these
people, molds can cause nasal stuffiness, throat irritation,
coughing or wheezing, eye irritation, or, in some cases, skin
irritation. People with mold allergies may have more severe
reactions. Immune-compromised people and people with chronic lung
illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may get serious
infections in their lungs when they are exposed to mold.
other resources (PDFs):
EPA
Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings
(pdf)
EPA
Guide to Mold in Your Home (pdf)
other resources (websites):
NYS
Department of Health (mold)
EPA
web page (mold)
CDC
(mold)
NYS
Department of Health (flood)
FEMA
(flood)
CDC
(mold)
