Video - Tornado damaged homes could breed toxic mold

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Tornado damaged homes could breed toxic mold

WBBH - Ft. Myers,FL*

9/20/2007

by Maggie Newland

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=14749 & z=3 & p=

CAPE CORAL: Cape Coral tornado victims have a new problem to worry

about - their health. Mold is already starting to form inside some

of the damaged homes and the problem is expected to get worse.

Homes damaged by this week's tornados have blue roofs, broken roofs,

or no roofs at all. With several days of storms on the way, the

homes could become full of water-soaked insulation, soggy sheetrock

and toxic mold.

" Mold's a big concern for me with allergies and stuff like that so

I'll be keeping an eye out, " said Ciesielski.

Ciesielski won't just watch and wait for mold to grow, she brought

in equipment to fight it.

The pipes snaking through the front yard are pulling moisture out of

her house, but they can't save everything.

" The guys just ripped out part of the walls and insulation and stuff

because it's not drying out, " said Ciesielski.

Mold can grow in mattresses, chairs or any furniture with water

damage, long before you can see it.

" We've had a couple people who have been forced to move out because

of allergic reactions to mold, " said Cape Coral building official

Dickson.

Dickson says the timing of the tornado was actually fortunate.

" After the tornado went through we had a day and a half where we

didn't get a lot of rain or any rain at all. Gave people time to get

the blue tarps on the roof, " said Dickson.

As long as the furniture, carpet and interior isn't wet, when put on

properly, blue tarps will work.

" They'll be adequate to keep the houses substantially dry. It'll be

effective, it really will be, " said Dickson.

Mold can cause headaches as well as respiratory and sinus problems.

Several private companies test for and remove mold.