Mold Risk Following a Storm
The date of August 29th has become somewhat notorious as unlucky for many who call Louisiana home. First, Hurricane Katrina devastated much of the New Orleans area in 2005. A mere 10 days ago, Hurricane Ida pummeled its way through the Pelican State on the sixteenth-year anniversary of Katrina. The catastrophic damages it has caused is estimated at 50 billion dollars.
Louisiana residents and our partners along the Gulf Coast are nothing short of resilient, there is no denying that. We have overcome our fair share of natural disasters. It should be of no surprise that this one has not been any different!
The Inevitable Risk of Mold
With storms of this magnitude comes inevitably, water damage. Many homes and businesses were flooded from Ida. If water damage is not mitigated swiftly and properly within 24-48 hours, your business or home could become infested with mold. There could also be additional secondary damages that can be very costly and time-consuming to repair. Once mold begins to grow, the restoration process is halted until it is removed.
Sometimes you may think you have mold, but oftentimes it can just be dust, dirt or mildew. Although our team at Guarantee Restoration Services is experts in mold remediation, we contract third party contractors to test your property for mold. They let us know what we are dealing with. Some surface molds are not as harmful as others. Others, like stachybotrys, can prove to be extremely toxic if spores are inhaled.
Stopping Mold in Its Tracks (And Not By Yourself!)
The most common cause of mold happens when flood damages are not restored correctly. When the most destructive hurricanes and tropical storms hit, it is often the hottest time of the year. The combination of heat and humidity does not bode well for mold. In fact, it is one of the worst things for it.
It is important to ventilate and dry out any affected rooms as quickly as possible. Many people will try to do this themselves, but cannot successfully remove all mold by spraying bleach and utilizing fans and wet-dry vacuums. This is because they do not have the proper and specialized equipment to dry and clean like restoration companies, such as GRS, do. Oftentimes, the cost to have your property professionally dried and cleaned is covered by your insurance policy. It’s not worth running the risk of potentially making it worse!
Harmful Health Effects
If not mitigated properly, these harmful microorganisms not only cause significant structural damage, but will also have a negative impact on the health of the residents as well. For individuals, it can activate a variety of allergy symptoms and other serious health issues, such as headaches, dizziness, respiratory problems, sinus infections, eye irritations and rashes. Mold can even aggravate conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (also known as, COPD).
There When You Need Us Most
We understand more than most that natural disasters are beyond our control. If you have water damage from a hurricane or other property loss, call on the team that is there when you need us most. Guarantee Restoration Services is available 24/7, which is not just a number, it’s a GUARANTEE. If your business or home has a mold issue, contact us today at 1-800-349-HELP (4357) or email us at info@guaranteerstoration.net.
Christina Riviere is the Marketing Manager at Guarantee Restoration Services. She celebrated her one-year anniversary at GRS in May 2021. To connect with her, visit LinkedIn or send her an email.
