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CHAPTER 2 WHERE AND WHY MOLD GROWS Lesson 7Floods

During a flood cleanup, the indoor air quality in your home or office may appear to be the least of your problems. However, failure to remove contaminated materials and to reduce moisture and humidity can present serious long-term health risks. Standing water and wet materials are a breeding ground for microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, and mold. They can cause disease, trigger allergic reactions, and continue to damage materials long after the flood.

Buildings that have been heavily damaged by flood waters should be assessed for structural integrity and remediated by experienced professionals.

Please note that the guidelines covered in this course were developed for damage caused by clean water (not flood water, sewage, or other contaminated water). See the Resource List, which includes the EPA Fact Sheet: Flood Cleanup - Avoiding Indoor Air Quality Problems, for more information.