Mold Removal – Hurricane Sandy Clean Up Teams

Hurricane Sandy Rapid Mold Removal and Clean Up Begins

The result of Hurricane Sandy was $50 billion dollars in water damage – the second costliest hurricane in US history. Over 650,000 homes were damaged or destroyed in the process; the water level as high as 8 ½ feet above normal in some areas. Yet even though the waters have since receded, homeowners are dealing with a new problem – mold removal.

Mold removal isn’t something to be pushed aside. Even the smallest amount of water damage from Hurricane Sandy to these homes can leave homeowners with thousands of dollars in mold damages and mold removal costs, if not identified and dealt with quickly enough. In most cases, if caught early, mold remediation can be easily enough remedied by homeowners when done properly. However if the mold appeared after significant water damage or had any possibility of sewage in it, then it’s highly recommended to call a professional who can use proper chemicals and mold removal techniques to fully recover from the damages.

In the case of Hurricane Sandy, many homes will be needing to use a professional mold removal service due to the severity of the flooding and damages done to the community. For each house, mold removal professionals will follow a set process to determine how to handle each homes mold problem individually.

The process involves first assessing the situation. Crews will not attempt any mold removal until mold is proven to be present, this may involve further investigation if mold is suspected but not visible. If mold is found present, the area is quarantined off immediately. This is because molds reproduce via spores launched into the air which can be blown around during the cleaning process. To stop spores from settling anywhere unwanted, plastic covering will be used while cleaning to prevent the spores from sticking to other surfaces. During the cleaning process, air filtration is also performed to help remove any airborne spores. During the removal process, materials such as wood, concrete or any porous material in general, may need to go if the damage is too great. The last step in the mold removal process is repairing any damages and preventing mold from coming back altogether.

The $50 billion in damages from Hurricane Sandy doesn’t take into account the damages that mold will cause in the aftermath of its destruction, but thanks to a few non for profit charities $15 million dollars has already been raised to help pay for mold removal from the homes that got the worst of the damages. Thousands of mold removal workers are also being called in to help remediate the problems as well. In some of the affected areas, it can cost upwards of $10,000 to remediate just one house. However thanks to the efforts of the Rapid Repair program, more than 15,000 families have since returned to their homes. The city has been providing free training clases in mold removal and prevention to affected homes that won’t be receiving financial aid from the city as well.