Mold Infestation Continues To Harm Hurricane Sandy Victims

Following the devastation of Hurricane Sandy’s, homeowners are left with another consequence of the flooding – mold infestation.

Hundreds of thousands of houses in coastal New Jersey, New York City and on Long Island were damaged or destroyed by the Hurricane Sandy. In the months following the storm, mold contamination has become an issue for elected officials, health professionals and residents of the waterlogged communities.

Even within homes that are reoccupied, mold can still be a problem. If improperly dried, mold can to grow on wooden beams, wet walls, exposed wallpaper, carpeting, sheet rock, clothing, furniture, and other items.

It’s possible that homeowners who thought they escaped with minor flooding can be left with thousands of dollars in mold damage.

Mold comes in many different colors, smells, and textures. Once mold is airborne, it can spread throughout an entire home. Symptoms and human health problems due to mycotoxin exposure include mucous membrane irritation, skin rash, nausea, immune system suppression, acute or chronic liver damage, acute or chronic central nervous damage, endocrine effects, and even cancer.

Plans were recently announced in New York to use private donations and some of the $1.8 billion dollars of federal relief money to help clean up mold. Studies found that following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, as many as half the flooded homes contained mold.

Once a home, condo or apartment building is severely infested, it can become difficult to completely remove hidden mold. In the worst cases, floors and walls must be torn away to correct the problems. If the issue not properly handled by a professional, the mold problem creates a high risk of lawsuits down the road, particularly if the new owner experience health problems due to new mold growth.

Remediation must completed properly in order for a damaged home to be once again inhabited safely – for both current and future occupants.

H&H Environmental Construction and Consulting provides professional  mold removal services for New York and New Jersey, including Monmouth, Middlesex, Union and Bergen Counties. Call us at 845-200-3788 if you suspect a mold or mildew problem.