Hurricanes and bad storms can cause a wide variety of problems for homeowners. Many of the families in our service area along the North Carolina and South Carolina coastline know this all too well. Once the immediate danger has passed, and you have ascertained that your home is, in fact, still standing, one of the problems you might be left with is a mold infestation. This occurs when flood water is left standing for hours or even days.
Although mold is frustrating and difficult to deal with, there are, fortunately, some steps you can take to get it out of your home. As you continue reading this guide, you’ll discover what you need to do if you return to your Carolina home after a hurricane evacuation to discover a moderate to severe mold issue.
Contact a professional to assess the situation.
It can be tempting to start trying to eliminate mold yourself using homemade solutions, but this isn’t actually a great idea. Different types of mold respond best to certain removal methods, so you should have a professional look at your situation before taking any action. Even if you don’t see mold upon returning to your house, it’s still a good idea to contact an expert. Sometimes, walls that don’t feel damp or look damaged can still be harboring mold on the backside of the drywall. Only a professional will be able to determine how extensive your home’s mold problem is following a hurricane.
Get rid of anything that has been ruined.
Though it may be hard to convince yourself to get rid of some of your belongings, anything that has been damaged beyond repair by floodwater needs to go. You may be in relatively good shape and discover that you can salvage most items, but will only have to deal with replacing structural things like drywall and wood floors. This is certainly a hassle but is less emotionally devastating than having to part with heirlooms and other beloved possessions.
It bears noting that you need to be very careful when you remove contaminated items from your house. Floodwater can contain all sorts of bacteria that can lead to diseases. Wear protective gear, cover any cuts or scrapes on your body with gauze and bandages, and put on rubber gloves before you start taking things out of your home.
Dry the space.
After you get through the steps as mentioned earlier, it will be time to dry your home out. While you can purchase your own industrial fans and dehumidifiers, it’s usually best to let a professional crew handle this job for you. They will know how to get the moisture levels in your home down to an acceptable number. Most homes on the Carolina coast are fairly humid inside compared to residences in other parts of the country, but the goal after a flood should be to get the moisture level below 16%.
Next time you find yourself dealing with a flooded house, give the Hatch Homes team a call. We live, work, and play in the Carolinas too, so we understand how stressful post-storm life can be. We’ll do everything we can to repair your home, deal with your mold issue, and get you and your family back to normalcy as quickly as possible.