AMU Emergency Management Public Safety

Tropical Storm Cindy, Mold and Safeguarding Family Heirlooms

This week Tropical Storm Cindy made landfall – creating a tremendous amount of flooding from the rain and the storm surge it brought with it.  There are so many emergency implications caused by major flooding and there are numerous points that must be considered when it comes to the flood waters.  From a public health stand point, major flooding has numerous medical implications as it can cause drownings and hypothermia – particularly if people do heed the warnings about dangerous flooding.  When the waters recede though, mold becomes the next emergency and needs to be re-mediated quickly. This will be an important consideration of emergency managers and local government officials to consider because of the numerous health hazards flood waters present to a community.

Flooding and Mold

It is shocking to see a street suddenly become a river because of major flooding. [link url=”https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-news-blog/2012/oct/29/hurricane-sandy-new-york-live-blog” title=”During Hurricane Sandy”], flooding created extensive damage.

Flooding is devastating when it affects a home.  The water is never clean and brings with it mud and silt that will also destroy a home. Further, the sides of the home that contain drywall, plaster and other materials can become a breeding ground for mold creating potential health problems for inhabitants. In many respects, mold remediation needs to be done quickly and thoroughly as part of the rebuilding process following a major disaster event. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention [link url=”https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/mold/reenter.html” title=”make several recommendations”] for entering a previously flooded home.

Homeowner Preparations for Major Flooding

Mold can be toxic and poses [link url=”https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/mold/index.html” title=”numerous health risks”].  When flood waters enter a home, the water can create a breeding ground for mold. This is a reality that is often difficult for people to face, especially as they’re coming to grips with the reality that they will likely need to throw out a lot of their possessions because of the damage caused by the floods. For families with sentimental things, this can be particularly devastating. Thus, it is important that families prepare for the potential of floods particularly when a hurricane or tropical storm is in their path.

Storing Valuables

As Tropical Storm Cindy continues to move inland, there is still the potential for families to prepare appropriately.  Emergency managers are always urging citizens to effectively prepare for disasters by purchasing the right number of supplies in case they need to shelter in place. But, families should take appropriate measures to store their family heirlooms appropriately if they’re in the path of Tropical Storm Cindy. The [link url=”https://emilms.fema.gov/is909/assets/11_safeguardingvaluables.pdf” title=”The Federal Emergency Management Agency”] recommends that citizens store valuables in such a way that they’re safe from flood waters. For example, making sure that photo albums are stored up off the floor and in plastic containers can help keep them safe from flood waters are simple measures that can protect a family’s prized possessions.

Many families have family heirlooms or items that are passed down from generation to generation. Antiques, family photos and letters are among some of the most prized possessions and simply cannot be replaced.  After a flooding emergency, it can be difficult to save these items from mold and it can be devastating for a homeowner to realize that they need to throw out these prized possessions if they have come in contact with mold.

Thus, it is important for homeowners to work to secure their valuables now. That way their valuables are safe should they have massive flooding from the storm.

Conclusion

Flood waters create serious havoc on a community for the amount of damage they create. More importantly though, flood waters will create the breeding ground for toxic mold that poses numerous health risks to the public. Homeowners should prepare for the potential of a flood by putting anything particularly valuable in containers that are waterproof, and are up off the floor. Further, should their home flood because of the storm, they should follow the recommendations of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to minimize health hazards associated with mold.

Allison G.S. Knox

Allison G. S. Knox teaches in the fire science and emergency management departments at the University. Focusing on emergency management and emergency medical services policy, she often writes and advocates about these issues. Allison works as an Intermittent Emergency Management Specialist in the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. She also serves as the At-Large Director of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, Chancellor of the Southeast Region on the Board of Trustees with Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in Social Sciences, chair of Pi Gamma Mu’s Leadership Development Program and Assistant Editor for the International Journal of Paramedicine. Prior to teaching, Allison worked for a member of Congress in Washington, D.C. and in a Level One trauma center emergency department. She is an emergency medical technician and holds five master’s degrees.

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