I have talked to several water damage restoration experts lately about the long term damage and possible problems from the flooding across the midwest and particularly in Iowa. There seems to be a common concern because of the extensive damage that was caused by the disaster, and that is a massive outbreak of what is known as black mold or toxic mold.

I have been informed that since the waters have had time to saturate a diverse list of "food sources" that are part of normal construction of both residential and commercial dwellings, that when the waters had or will fall and there is just soaked building left, that this will be the ideal breeding grounds for molds to grow.

So why are they claiming this doom and gloom? These molds have a long list of medical issues that they are known to cause, including death for some. Almost nobody is immune from the disasterous effects of mold, with symptoms ranging from simple allergies , heart issues, internal bleeding, and in some cases, even death. These are attributed to what is commonly refered to as sick building syndrome.

The mold that is considered dangerous are called Mycotoxin. They are the spores that grow in colonies and cause a variety of health issues. They live and feed on organic materials, like wood, insulations, dirt and other debris in carpets. It can also grow on drywall or sheetrock because of the organic covering (generaly paper) of the drywall. All it need to thrive is the right tempratures and some moisture.

This is why some water damage restoration experts are deeply concerned about the possability of a massive outbreak in the Iowa flood areas. Since flooring, wood, drywall and insulation are present in almost every home and commercial building, the organic food needed for these colonies to form were already onsite. Then you throw in the summer tempratures and a lot of moisture to help kick the fungal party off, all nessary ingredients are present to create a major secondary disaster.

The last concern is that most people will try to dry out their own homes after the flood waters have gone. If this is not done properly, with the right equipment, training and knowledge, it could have a helpful effect for the growth of these toxic mold colonies. There are certain rates and tempratures that the dwelling needs to be kept at to stop the growth of this deadly mold.

Also hiring non-qualified people and contractors can add to the problems with out of date equipment and a lack of knowledge of what must be done to make sure that the remediation and restoration process is completed the right way.

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