Growing in walls, old books, wet documents and old carpets, mold is a problem that invades homes, schools and businesses when there is any hint of humidity. This summer the Florida Mold Bill became a law to establish standards for professionals who do mold assessments and perform remediation services in the state.
When you find a mold infestation, according to the state of Florida, there are three things you should do:
1. Make sure the remediation specialist holds an American Council Accredited Certification. This agency provides remediation contractor licenses for several states.
2. Make sure the remediation professional has liability insurance coverage that has a mold specific pollution-liability rider.
3. Keep in mind that the state you are in may not allow the contractor who performs the mold assessment be the same contractor who remediates the mold. This helps make sure there is a high level of accountability among contractors to make sure mold is remediated according to the state protocols in place, damage to property is prevented, there are less chances for economic injuries and health risks are reduced.
When it comes to mold damage in a home or building, individuals should take measures to ensure safety and welfare, particularly when it comes to those with weakened immune systems, young children and the elderly.
To assist Minnesota and Wisconsin residents and small business owners who were devastated by the late September 2010 floods, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is providing more than $1 million in Disaster Assistance Loans. So far, 22 disaster loans totaling more than $1,160,000 have been approved.
The deadline for Minnesota and Wisconsin residents and small business owners to apply for an SBA disaster loan is December 14, 2010, and anyone in need of assistance is encouraged to apply soon. Disaster loans through the SBA have low interest rates and help cover physical losses as a result of a disaster, such as wet documents. Individuals may also use the funds from a loan to help pay for protective measures that would help prevent future damages. Some small businesses and nonprofit organizations may use the loan to help recuperate lost or unmet capital needs; the deadline for loans to help cover economic damages is July 15, 2011. Learn more about the SBA’s Disaster Loan Programs.
Professionaldisaster recovery services can assist you when your business or home experiences a disaster such as water damage, wet books and mold.
One of the greatest sources of pride in a person’s life is home ownership. To help protect this lifestyle, individuals purchase homeowners insurance so they have assistance in the event of a disaster. Homeowner’s policies cover damage due to events such as fires, theft, strong winds, lightening strikes and so on, but there are common events that are not covered.
Holes in Your Homeowners Insurance Policy
Some of the common exclusions in home insurance policy include acts of war, acts of God and nuclear events. Although the chances of these things happening to you are slim to none, there common events that could affect your home this fall and winter, and the cost to repair the damages can break your bank. The following are things your homeowner’s policy may not cover:
Water damage of any kind. A flood that reminds you of Noah’s ark, water from a firefighter’s hose after putting out flames, leaks from your roof or windows and a leaky or burst pipe: ways water can damage your home. Water damage is not covered by your homeowners insurance unless you also purchase a flood insurancepolicy.
Some damage to your roof. If your roof is still under warranty or damage to it was caused by not maintaining it properly, chances are your claim to have it repaired will be denied.
Damage to materials for your home business. If you operate a small business from your home and there is a disaster, your homeowners insurance will not help cover the expense to replace your lost business items. Unless you have a commercial insurance policy, you will have to pay for a new computer, drying wet documents, a new desk or other business materials out of your own pocket.
If you are not 100% sure about what your homeowners insurance policy covers, talk to your agent before you find out the hard way.
Flooding, extending from the Midwestern states to the east coast of the U.S., has caused unforeseen devastation and cleanup costs. States affected by floodwaters include Iowa, Delaware, Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and more. The causes of the floods are due to severe thunderstorms in the north and along the Atlantic Coast that filled rivers and lakes, and Tropical Depression Bonnie, which brewed in the Gulf of Mexico, according to Reuters.
Clean-Up Tips
Now that the storms are gone, residents in the flood-damaged states are left to clean the devastation in extreme heat. To those cleaning up after the aftermath of the natural disasters, consider the following tips:
Take pictures of all the damage to your property and write notes about it on a piece of paper. When individuals are stressed-out important information can easily slip their memory, and this type of documentation is helpful when making a claim with an insurance company or are seeking remediation assistance.
Use water cautiously. While water from wells may be okay for bathing in, only drink bottled water or water you boiled.
Start cleaning flood-damaged items as soon as you know it is safe to do so. Heat and moisture are the perfect breeding grounds for mold. Mold can grow in as little as three days, so it is to one’s advantage to act quickly, especially when it comes to wet documents, wet books and photographs. This is something business owners need to act quickly on so they can get back in business ASAP.
See if FEMA has declared a disaster in your area. Checkout their mobile site, m.fema.gov, and apply for disaster aid on your Smartphone.
Call in the experts. The assistance of a disaster restoration company can help you make sure your wet items are completely dry and mold-free so you do not have reoccurring mold problems and damage in the future.
While storms are scary and the aftermath is stressful, you have the power get your life back to normal quickly when you clean the water damage correctly. Learn more about what to do after a flood.
When there is a fire in a building, the sprinkler system and firefighters’ efforts can be a saving grace. However, if the sprinklers went off in your home or office, would you run inside the building to gather items that would be irreplaceable if damaged by water? Did you know that you do not have to risk your life and safety for fear that precious books, photos and documents may get wet?
Although fire sprinklers can help slow the spread of a fire in a building, they can also cause water damage to electronic equipment, walls, carpets and so on. To help address this problem, “The Washington Post” suggests placing valuables in plastic zipper bags and storing them on the lower levels of a building, off the floor. However, the plastic zipper bags will only do so much if they burn in a fire.
While storing items in plastic bags is not a horrible idea, there are other steps people can take in a home or office to prevent water and fire damage from occurring to important documents and personal items in the event of a fire.
The first is to invest in a water and fireproof file cabinet and/or safe and use it. Store your important documents and personal items in a file cabinet or safe on a daily basis. These items can include deeds, photograph negatives, contracts, books and other things of value. Learn other water and fire-damage prevention techniques.
Growing in walls, old books, wet documents and old carpets, mold is a problem that invades homes, schools and businesses when there is any hint of humidity. This summer the Florida Mold Bill became a law to establish standards for professionals who do mold assessments and perform remediation services in the state.
