All about flood & Mold

All about floods and mold

Flood!!! Most of us are already aware of what waves are. Despite studying in schools and reading articles, there are numerous things which we are still unaware of. To clarify some more details on the subject and give additional information about floods and mold, here is an article.

What is a flood? – A Little Overview:

In scientific terms, waves can be defined as “overflow of water that immerses land which is usually dry.” European Union (EU) Floods Directive defined flood as the “covering by water of land not normally covered by water.”

Now, the question is where does this water come from? Well, the answer is quite simple. The rain during a flood usually comes from the seas, rivers, and oceans whenever the amount of rainfall increases any time of the year. The water covers the land which is generally dry. Majority of the flood usually affect residential and commercial areas which can result in faculties and severe damage as well. Other than this, animals and plant system is also severely affected during floods.

The different types of the flood:

Floods do not occur in a particular way. There can be different kinds of waves which mainly depends on the distinguishing factors including rainfall, global warming, and high-sea levels, etc. A few types of waves which are most commonly observed are;

• Areal
• Riverine (channel)
• Estuarine and coastal
• Catastrophic

Areal flooding:

Floods usually occur on flat surfaces; the land which is low-lying. The water in such areas is generally covered with rainfall water or from the snow-melt during summers. The water-flow can get dangerous when the water accumulates in one place. In such cases the soil becomes saturated. Areal flooding can be deadly if the water flow becomes steady and rapid. Otherwise, it is usually not too terrible.

Riverine (channel) flooding:

Floods which occur in almost every kind of stream, river or canal is referred to as a riverine or channel flooding. This type of flooding can happen in the ephemeral streams as well as the usually dry channels. During this kind of flood, whenever the water overflows, a wave is caused which is typically muddy where the residues and deposits are picked by and run off. Land sliding, beaver dams, and ice can also cause riverine flooding.

Estuarine or coastal flooding:

As clear from the name, coastal flooding is usually caused by the sea tidal surges (which occur because of the winds and high pressure). Coastal floods typically happen because of the storm near the sea and can also result in Tsunamis in severe cases.

Catastrophic flooding:

This kind of flooding is generally linked with huge infrastructure failures, for instance, if a dam collapses. This type of flooding can be caused due to an earthquake, volcano or landslides as well.

Effects and Consequences of floods:

Flood is a natural disaster which comes with several distinctive effects and consequences. A few of them are listed below:

• It wrecks and damages homes, offices, commercial and residential areas — the long-term standing of flood water results in mold.
• Shortage of drinking water usually occurs during this time.
• Animal and plant life is hugely affected.
• Organic matter decays to a great extent.

Mold and floods:

If your house was flooded as well, then there is a 70% chance that you will have to face the mold problem. All the damp spots, basement area and places with standing water are probably affected by mold.

I know you are probably thinking; what exactly is mold? Right?

Well, to be exact mold is a kind of fungus which usually develops in damp areas. It is a type of multicellular filament termed as hyphae. There are multiple distinct types of mold which typically form on the wet and moist areas. Shape not affects the plants, animals, and food but is also quite harmful to the buildings made of wood, ceramic and bricks.

Association between floods and mold:

Since surge causes the places to fill up with water, therefore, the chance of mold development start to increase as well. The flood water is usually dirty, full of mud, sediments, and debris, consequently this multiplies the chance of growth of mold.

Dampness usually causes mold which can produce an unhealthy and detrimental environment for people to reside in. When these mold and fungus start to expand and exist in more significant amounts, it can be potentially dangerous for the individuals especially those who have allergies and breathing issues like asthma. (So make sure you contact your doctor if you have any breathing issue or even if the mold is causing an effect on your health).

Many natural disasters especially floods can cause mold. So if your home has been in flood too, then there is a probable chance that mold has developed.

However, the good news is that the mold can be prevented and removed. If you were in flood but the mold hasn’t affected yet you can take some precautionary measures. And if the mold has already attacked your home, you can make some steps to get rid of it. Read on to find out how to deal with either of the situations.

Precaution to prevent mold after floods:

Mold is generally caused if the water is standing for more than 48 hours. However, there are cases where mold started forming a few hours after the flood. If your house has been in flood as well, but there are no or slight indications of mold here a few things you can do. Mold remediation can be difficult, but it isn’t impossible. Here is how you can do it.

Clean up and dry out:

The fungus is caused in areas where there is dirt, damp water, and germs. So, the first thing you need to do in the early 24-48 hours is to clean up the mess and dry all the area by any means. This reduces the chances of mold up to 95%. You can dry out the area using ceiling fans or pedestal fans. The advantage of pedestal fans is that they can be positioned in the direction where there are water and chances of mold. Other than this, cleaning up the mess and all the debris and sediments is also an essential part to avoid and prevent mold after a flood.

Remove the wet carpet:

If your house was carpeted during the floods, then the first thing you need to do is remove the carpet as there are high chances of mold attack. The padding attached on the back of the rug is usually thick which takes a lot more time to dry up; therefore, mold mostly affects carpets and rugs.

Remove the Drywall:

Mold can also grow on walls and or inside the wall cavities. If the bottom of the wall was flooded, then the first thing you need to do is cut off the bottom side of the wall to prevent mold and fungal damages.

Remove flooded Items:

Other than all of the above you also need to remove the molded items from the room to make sure that the mold doesn’t spread on other issues in the place. Another thing, before moving in the new furniture make sure it is completely dry, so there are no chances of mold and fungal attacks.

What if the mold has already affected?

If your home is already affected because of the mold, it is time you start making changes. There are a few things which you can try to remove the mold after floods. Read on!!!

Is Bleach effective?

Some people use bleach to remove mold. Though the mold can be removed with the help of bleach, it is only valid on non-porous surfaces like marble and tiles. For woods and other porous surfaces bleach usually doesn’t work correctly and at times can also encourage more mold growth which is why you need to be sure of the surface you are bleaching.

Throw away the molded items:

Molded items can encourage mold growth on other furniture as well which is why it is always better to throw away the things which are already molded.

Cleaning mold mean removing the mold permanently not just cleaning it. This is because dead spores can cause several health issues especially to those who have breathing issues, HIV or any similar issues.

If controlling the mold on your own is being hard you can prefer hiring professionals. Professionals mostly use HEPA vacuum cleaners which can help in the removal of mold, effectively. Other than this, using the clothes, hard bristled brushes and mist spray bottles can also assist in removing the mold seamlessly.

Do home insurance companies help?

Home insurance companies usually do not cover mold damage. However, there are specific policies which can help in recovering the cost financially. Other than this, you can claim for a loan to fix the damaged caused due to mold.

Floods can be dangerous in numerous ways, one of the worst types of damages is the formation of mold and mold removal can be something majority of your face. If you have furniture, walls or appliances affected by mold, the first thing you need to do is take immediate action. It not only helps in preventing further damage but can also save you from several different problems (mainly including health).

If you need any professional help by licensed mold removal company you can Contact Prime mold