Expert says act quickly to combat mold after floods recede

Some parts of our area are drying out.  Others are still waiting for floods to recede.  Floods bring a risk after the water is gone.

There is a 24 to 48 hour window to dry out your flooded house before mold sets in. Christine Messina of All-Risk Property Damage Experts in New Jersey says mold damage can sometime hide under carpets and behind walls.

“It grows when there are conditions when there is a moisture source and material for the mold to grow on so certainly a flood is the perfect storm for mold to grow,” said Messina. “Removing the moisture, removing the water is the first step, but we always want folks to use safety.”

Messina warns people against entering a flooded basement because of the potential for electrocution. She says for small patches of mold, a bleach solution of one part bleach to ten parts water can clear it up. She says if mold is covering an area wider than a yardstick get it treated professionally. That help isn’t cheap and often is not covered by insurance.