church with mold - dorms evacuated

June 13, 2003

Dear All:

Here's another example of how poor construction has caused a new building to

be ruined and cost a property owner hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Armstrong - President Florida Chapter

HomeOwners for Better Building - www.hobb.org

> Berean Baptist Church Mold story

>

> Church faces toxic mold in its student dorm Pastor Tom Neal

Toxic mold has spread throughout the new dormitory

56K | High Speed

FLEMING ISLAND, FL -- The Barean Baptist Church in Fleming Island has a new

building for its seminary students and a new problem -- toxic mold.

" Our church is like a big family. We have given our entire ministry to

helping others, " said Pastor Tom Neal, Barean Baptist Church.

It's the kind of help Pastor Tom Neal wanted to take from the pews into the

community.

" We started a college and it seemed to start growing fast. This past year,

we were able to build a dormitory, " said Pastor Tom Neal.

It is a place to house their seminary students to provide a home and a

dream.

However, a major problem is lurking behind the doors. There is a breeding

ground of toxic mold so bad that visitors have to wear bio-hazard suits and

respirators.

Toxicologist Dr. Lipsey showed the clusters of Stachybotrys mold.

This is the most dangerous type of toxic mold. It grows everywhere and in

frightening numbers. It's in the rafters, the ceilings and cabinets.

Pastor Neal says it started with faulty construction which lead to water

leaks.

" We have literally spend hundreds of thousands of dollars, and we have

suffered millions of dollars in losses, " said Pastor Tom Neal.

Now, the problem is so bad, it would be cheaper to tear the building down

than to remediate.

" The great test is to be able to keep your spirit up so you can keep the

spirit of the kids [and church members] up, " said Pastor Tom Neal.

If you think you have black mold in your house, experts recommend hiring an

agency or toxicologist to take a sample of the mold to identify it. You'll

then need to find your moisture problem to fix it and clean up the mold.

Reported by Brice.

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