Mold a growing problem in Montgomery County

July 20, 2006

Updated: 7/20/2006 6:23 AM

By: Kathy Young

WATCH THE VIDEO

Capital News 9 - Albany,NY

sp?ArID=186239

" We spray everyday, sometimes twice a day, " said flood victim Sandy

.

But it's been in vain for many flood victims in Montgomery County

who can't seem to get rid of the stubborn mold that started

appearing as soon as the water went away.

" It started immediately, especially when it got warmer -- the heat

and the water, " said flood victim Sandy .

" I keep spraying it down with the Clorox and water, and I keep

spraying it down as fast as I can but it keeps re-appearing, " said

flood victim Louis Colon.

Experts said they do have some simple steps residents can take to

get rid of the mold. They said the most important thing to do before

following any of these steps is to stay safe, and they recommend

wearing a mask.

" Gotta take it out step one. Step two, sanitize. Step three, control

the ambient condition inside the home, dehumidification, air

movement. Dry out any materials inside that cannot sustain mold, "

said ABM Catstrophe International Site Director Jim Hennesey.

Once you remove the tainted items, using simple products with bleach

will help clean up whatever is left. The next step is to keep the

affected areas cool with a dehumidifier or fan.

" Keep your house closed if you can in this type of weather we're

having because the humidity outside is really high. That way you

won't bring moisture into the home. You'll be able to control it, "

said Hennesey.

Once that mold is gone and it's time to rebuild, it's important to

make sure the area is dry. Otherwise the mold will come back.

" You don't want to put new building material over wet structure, or

else you're going to create this problem all over again, " said

Hennesey.

Experts said the mold won't go away on it's own. The best thing to

do is to get rid of it as soon as possible to prevent it from

spreading.

Recommended Posts