Flood raises health worries

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Flood raises health worries

Seniors in mobile home parks urged to be careful when making repairs

February 15, 2006

By COREY YOUNG

ARGUS-COURIER STAFF

Petaluma, CA

http://www.arguscourier.com/news/news/floodhealth060215.html

Petaluman Bill Green is worried about mold.

Specifically, he's worried about mold growing under the mobile homes

in four Petaluma neighborhoods inundated by water from the New

Year's Eve flood.

Green doesn't live in a mobile home, but he wants Petaluma's seniors

to be cautious when cleaning up from flood damage and removing

carpet, insulation and other material soaked by the floodwaters.

" You always have to take into account the after-effects -- the

health problems, " said Green, who is rounding up volunteers to help

seniors clean their mobile homes.

He's also gotten the attention of city officials by asking for help

at recent City Council meetings. Although the city doesn't have a

health department or do mold inspections, on Monday Public Works

Director Vince Marengo and Fire Chief Albertson spent time

distributing information on soil testing and mold dangers to

residents of Youngstown mobile home park on North McDowell Boulevard.

Youngstown was one of four mobile home parks hit by flooding in

north Petaluma, along with Leisure Lake, Capri Villa and Petaluma

Estates.

Albertson gave residents in several parks a packet of information on

how to spot potential mold problems, how to clean mold areas

properly and what local companies conduct tests for soil

contamination. The fire department, 778-4390, can hand out more of

the information to residents who request it, he said.

If residents are unsure about mold in their homes, they can get help

online through the U.S. Environment-al Protection Agency Web site,

www.epa.gov, or call the Sonoma County environmental health division

at 565-6511.

Green, a retired crane operator, said he became concerned when he

saw seniors trying to clean up trash and mud from their homes

without gloves or breathing masks. He's heard reports of seniors

having breathing trouble and other health problems since the flood.

Some Youngstown residents concurred.

" A number of people are ill, " said Diane Sprigden, who lives in

Youngstown with her mother.

Ruppenthal, who was helping her fiancee replace ruined carpet

and insulation Monday, said a neighbor spent time in the hospital

for a bron-chial infection after the flood.

Half of her home's flooring was flooded on Dec. 31, she said.

" All of the insulation has to be removed, " Ruppenthal said. " Six

weeks later, it's still wet. "

Green said he's looking for experienced volunteers who know how to

handle ruined insulation and potentially toxic materials to help

clean up. He's also requesting donations of mold test kits for

mobile home residents.

" These people have no one, so I'm going to put together an army of

volunteers, " he said.

He's inviting affected residents and anyone who can offer help to a

7 p.m. meeting tonight at the Petaluma Community Center, 320 N.

McDowell Blvd. Green can be reached at 235-4716.

(Contact Corey Young at cyoung@...)