Area mold miseries continue

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Area mold miseries continue

The Reporter - Fond du Lac,WI*

By Sharon Roznik • The Reportersroznik@... •

July 24, 2008

Weeks after a historic flood besieged local communities, Patsy

Kimball of North Fond du Lac is still struggling to get a handle on

the disaster.

Like a number of residents, the 67-year-old asthma sufferer was

unable to sufficiently clean her basement and prevent the growth of

dreaded mold that federal and state health officials have warned

flood victims about.

People sensitive to mold can experience cold-like symptoms such as a

stuffy nose, irritated eyes, wheezing or skin irritation, according

to Fond du Lac County Health Officer Diane Cappozzo. Those with mold

allergies often have shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.

The most at-risk individuals with weakened immune systems and

chronic lung diseases may develop mold infections in their lungs.

Last month about a foot of sewage mixed with surface water flooded

the old basement of Kimball's home on Indiana Avenue in the village,

but after pumping out the water and removing larger items, she was

left with a wet, molding basement.

This week, a team of trained disaster relief volunteers from Shelby

Township, Mich. came to her rescue.

" They've been here two days and cleaned up everything, " Kimball

said. " I could never have been able to clean it like this team did. "

The Michigan team is part of United Methodist Volunteers in Mission,

working in coordination with North Fond du Lac's Community United

Methodist Church.

Volunteers are desperately needed to help with a number of area

residences plagued by mold infestation, said the Rev. Ellen

Rasmussen. The Community Church pastor serves as disaster response

coordinator for the Winnebago District of the Wisconsin Conference

of the United Methodist Church UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on

Relief).

In many cases, people did the best job they could but didn't

completely gut their basements after floodwater was removed, said

Rasmussen, who is coordinating the local relief work

" Mold came back on wooden workbenches, on wood beams, walls, drywall

and other porous items, " she said. " We have an upcoming project in

which the owner had recently remodeled the basement and had left the

walls up, hoping they could be saved, " she said.

Currently working on seven houses, the pastor said she has a waiting

list of residents who have requested assistance.

" I talk to people every day who are so tired they just can't do it

anymore, " she said. " The stress from the emotional and financial

trauma of the flood takes a toll on the physical endurance it takes

to keep at it. "

Because the number of flood-relief volunteers has dwindled, the need

for help is even greater now, said Kay Vandervort, executive

director of the Volunteer Center of Fond du Lac County.

" It is becoming a significant safety issue for our residents living

in those homes, " she said. " We are asking community members to come

out and help. "

People willing to help are encouraged to call the Volunteer Center

to register for a community cleanup day planned for Saturday, Aug.

2. Volunteers age 15 to 17 are asked to come with a parent or

guardian or with a signed permission slip.

Youth groups from schools and churches are welcome, Vandervort

noted. Employee groups, family or neighborhood groups, service

groups, and clubs are all encouraged to join in the cleanup efforts.

Community Flood Cleanup Day was developed by a collaboration of more

than 20 agencies, churches, organizations and government bodies that

have come together to respond to the disaster. It is led by the Fond

du Lac Area Foundation and Fond du Lac County.

Volunteers will be assigned in groups with a team leader and be

matched to afternoon projects throughout the county. Supplies,

including protective gear, will be provided. The cleanup is expected

to be a daylong activity, but some teams may finish earlier.

The are no firm numbers available as to how many residences are

still in need of disaster assistance for mold remediation, Cappozzo

said.

Some people are just now coming forward as mold returns to houses

initially cleaned after the flood. Fond du Lac's city inspector and

code enforcement department have also been alerted to mold-infested

houses, some of them rental properties. In some instances,

inspectors have had to be brought in to force the issue.

" We knew that there were going to be some people, for whatever

reason, (who) emotionally or physically couldn't respond to the

damage that occurred to their property, " Cappozzo said. " Some of the

elderly can't get down in their basements. We live in a community

where people are very prideful and they don't want to ask for help. "

Natural gas service is still out in about 200 city homes, Cappozzo

said.

" I would encourage people to reach out. We are concerned about

people's emotional response to their situations, " she said.