Mold contamination concerns grip another family

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Mold contamination concerns grip another family

07/07/02

Jan Witherspoon

After moving to Citrus County and into a temporary home, the family of Ron

Mangum says they began experiencing poor health.

Breathing problems and rashes sent the family to the county health

department and the emergency room. They moved out of the home and into a

motel. Now the Mangum family is living out of their van and travel trailer

at a Citrus County campground.

" I'm about to lose it all, " Ron Mangum said, " and I've never been like this

before, I've always been able to take care of everybody. "

It seems to be a club nobody wants to join, but now three Citrus County

families have been made homeless by what they say are the ill affects of

mold on their health.

Morelli and her two daughters are living with her mother. With a house

that sits empty in Inverness and two children who she has removed from the

local school system, Morelli continues to fight to make legislators, school

personnel and politicians aware of what she believes is the disastrous

potential of toxic mold.

Jacquie Hepfer had to move from her Inverness home, leaving behind

everything that could be contaminated with mold. She continues to experience

health problems even though she has left the mold-contaminated home, she

says. She's now renting a residence while the house she grew up in sits

vacant.

She says her health right now is poor; and paying rent and continuing

payments on a house they can't live in is a financial struggle.

The Mangum family has no health insurance and continues to experience

breathing problems. Mangum is especially concerned about his 11-month-old

granddaughter. Morelli doesn't have health insurance; however, her homeowner

's insurance has paid her rent for 10 months. Hepfer's insurance company is

not paying her rent.

On July 1, State Farm Florida Insurance Company, a Florida-only company,

announced it will not issue any new homeowners policies nor will it renew

existing condominium association policies.

From January 2001 through May 2002, State Farm Florida had an underwriting

loss of $231 million.

State Farm Florida's action follows the rejection by the Florida Department

of Insurance for rate increases and mold exclusions in homeowner policies.

Jim , senior vice president of State Farm Florida, stated in a press

release that the company " cannot responsibly continue offering these

products given the current situation. "

The press release also states: " State Farm Florida has worked diligently to

address our rate adequacy concerns and mold issues, but we've been unable to

reach a solution to allow the company to operate on a sound business

footing. "

State Farm Florida insures about 980,000 homeowners.

For people like Morelli, Mangum and Hepfer, the issue of insurance, whether

it is homeowners or health, is a touchy subject. All three say they mostly

want to educate people about what can happen if a house becomes contaminated

with mold. They say they want their health and homes back, nothing more.

" People think it's a scam, " Hepfer said, " or that you're nuts. You get tired

of people implying it's your imagination. "

Mold insurance claims are happening nationwide and print and television

media have covered the subject, yet it remains a mystery to most people.

Realtors, home builders, heating and air-conditioning companies as well as

insurance companies are, according to trade publications and media accounts,

concerned about the effects of mold claims.

Some high-profile people have had to leave their houses due to mold

including, according the a June 20 edition of USA Today, Ed McMahon.

However, many people like Hepfer, Mangum and Morelli are struggling with an

issue many people do not believe exists.

Especially concerned about his 11-month-old granddaughter, Mangum is

verbally striking out at insurance companies and physicians who he says do

not know how to treat victims of mold.

" This is a public health issue, " he said. " This stuff is not choosy about

who it strikes. We went to Shands (Hospital), and the doctor wrote 'stay out

of the house.' We have had difficulty finding a doctor here to go to. They

don't have the expertise to treat us after we tell them what we think is

wrong.

" At Shands, nothing was accomplished by the visit. People look at you like

you're imagining this stuff. I feel like the villain out of a toxic mold

sci-fi movie. "