There are a few steps you can take if you're a victim of the state's recent historic flooding and you're beginning to clean up the mold that may be inside your home.
Indoor mold growth may occur when mold spores come in contact with wet areas, which can be prevalent in recently flooded homes, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals said in a statement Saturday.
REACTIONS CAN END FATALLY. DR. HEBERT: I HAD A PATIENT COME INTO MY OFFICE THIS WE WHEEZING WITH SHORTNESS OF ALLERGIC REACTION. IT'S RARE, BUT ALLERGIES CAN BE DEADLY. ANAPHYLAXIS, A SEVERE WHOLE-BODY REACTION CAN LEAD TO SUFFOCATION OR HEART FAILURE. ACCORDING TO RESEARCH, ANAPHYLACTIC REACTIONS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 1,500 DEATHS IN THE U.S. EACH YEA AND 88% OF THOSE INVOLVE SUDDEN CARDIOVASCULAR COLLAPSE. ANAPHYLAXIS TYPICALLY OCCURS AFTER A SECOND EXPOSURE TO AN ALLERGEN. EXPOSURE CAUSES THE IMMUNE SYSTEM TO CREATE ANTIBODIES TO THE TRIGGERING SUBSTANCE-THINK PEANUTS, BEE STINGS, OR MOLD. THE SECOND EXPOSURE SENDS THOSE ANTIBODIES INTO ACTION, CAUSING A CASCADE OF BODILY REACTIONS THAT LEAD TO LOSS OF BLOOD PRESSURE, HIVES, CONSTRICTION OF AIRWAYS, AND GASTROINTESTINAL PROBLEMS THE SKIN AND RESPIRATORY SYSTEM ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED, FOLLOWED BY THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT AND CIRCULATORY AND NERVOUS SYSTEMS. THE MOST COMMON TRIGGERS OF ANAPHYLAXIS ARE FOODS SUCH AS PEANUTS, WHEAT, TREE NUTS, SHELLFISH, FISH, MILK, AND EGGS, MEDICATIONS, INCLUDING ANTIBIOTICS, ASPIRIN, IBUPROFEN, AND OTHER ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS. ALSO, INSECT VENOM FROM STINGS CAN ALSO TRIGGER AN ANAPHYLACTIC REACTION. IF YOU ARE HIGHLY ALLERGIC TO ANY SUBSTANCE, AND HAVE EXPERIENCED AN ANAPHYLACTIC REACTION, OR IF YOU ARE AT RISK DUE TO GENETICS OR PAST HEALTH HISTORY, YOU SHOULD HAVE AN ALLERGIC ACTION PLAN. CARRY AN EPINEPHRINE INJECTION WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES. ALWAYS WEAR A MEDIC ALERT BRACELET THAT EXPLAINS YOUR POTENTIAL CONDITION, AND IN A CRISIS, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY. EMTS MAY GIVE ANTIHISTAMINES AND CORTICOSTEROIDS INTRAVENOUSLY TO REDUCE AIRWAY INFLAMMATION AND A BETA AGONIST TO RELIEVE BREATHING SYMPTOMS. AND ALWAYS REMEMBER TO BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS BECAUSE IF SOMEONE IS HAVING AN ALLERGIC REACTION, YOUR SWIFT ACTION COULD SAVE A
Officials said many residents have begun recovery efforts, which include cleaning up their homes from the floodwaters that left many neighborhoods inundated.
One sign of indoor mold growth includes staining on surfaces, musty odors, dark spots on or around vents, water stains and peeling or curling of vinyl floors or wallpaper.
DHH said common reactions to mold are cough, congestion, runny noses, burning eyes, headaches, sneezing and sore throats. People most sensitive to mold include children, pregnant women and older people or those with weakened immune systems.
NATALIE: AS THE SUN SHINES, AND THE HEAVY RAINS DISAPPEAR. >> WE STILL HAVE TREMENDOUS ISSUES WITH FLOODWATER. NATALIE: THE ROAD TO RECOVERY CONTINUES. FOR SOME LOUISIANA RESIDENTS, FLOODING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS UNHEARD OF. 86-YEARS-OLD. THEY'VE LIVED IN THEIR HOME FOR 50 YEARS, AND NEVER HAD WATER APPROACH THEIR HOME BEFORE, BUT DESTROYED IN THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT NATALIE: OFFICIALS ESTIMATE MORE STATE HAVE BEEN EVACUATED FROM THEIR HOMES, AND ONLY A PORTION OF THEM ACTUALLY HAD FLO INSURANCE. >> THE AVERAGE HOME OWNER'S POLICY DOES NOT INCLUDE IN A FLOOD ZONE OR NOT. TOO MANY PEOPLE THINK, WELL, IF I'M NOT AT A HIGH RISK AREA, THEN I'M NOT AT RISK FOR FLOODING. AND WHAT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND MOST VALUABLE PIECES OF THEIR EQUITY AT RISK. NATALIE: BUT WITH 26 PARISHES DECLARED AS FEDERAL DISASTERS, AND SEVERAL MORE THAT ARE NOW BEING ASSESSED FOR DAMAGES -- RESIDENTS WITH OR WITHOUT FLOOD INSURANCE CAN CALL OR REGISTER ONLINE WITH FEMA TO SEE WHAT FEDERAL AID TH EY QUALIFY FOR >> FIRST THING UP WOULD BE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DISASTER LOANS, BOTH FOR BUSINESSES AND HOME OWNER LOANS. THAT WOULD BE THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF DOLLARS THEY COULD GET TO START REBUILDING, BUT IT IS A LOAN WE DO LOOK AT AN INCOME MEAN TEST, SO IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD A LOAN, THAT'S WHERE A FEMA GRANT CAN BECOME ELIGIBLE. NATALIE: FEMA FOCUSES ON DAMAGES, MEANING THAT EVEN THOSE WITH HOME FLOOD INSURANCE COULD QUALIFY FOR HELP AND AS FOR THE HOMEOWNERS WHO STILL DON'T HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE -- >> WE CONTINUE TO IMPLORE IN A SPECIAL RISK AREA. LOOK AT CAN YOU AFFORD TO NOT HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE.
State Epidemiologist Dr. Raoult Ratard said most types of mold are not harmful to healthy people, but those with asthma or allergies should try to avoid it.
DHH said residents should remember that after severe weather events like flooding, mold growth can cover more than 10 square feet, and a contractor or mold cleanup company may be needed. Professional help should be brought in if a home's heating/venting/air conditioning system has mold growing inside of it.
Here are a few tips for cleaning up mold:
- Wear gloves, breathing masks, eye goggles, long-sleeve clothing and pants when cleaning up mold.
- Find and fix the moisture problem; otherwise, mold will return.
- Shut off all heat or air conditioning to stop mold spores from spreading.
- Remove, bag or throw out materials that have heavy mold growth.
- Use detergent in hot water to scrub the moldy area.
- Rinse the whole area with hot water.
- Fully dry areas for two or three days.
- Use HEPA-filtered vacuums.
More information on mold removal, including how to prevent it from recurring can be found on DHH's website.
