|
Latest News For You | For Agency Professionals
ഀ
ഀ
Information on Disaster Assistance for NJ
ഀ
homeowners, renters and business owners
ഀ
affected by severe flooding in
ഀ
Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Mercer,
ഀ
Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset and Union Counties
ഀ
ഀ
ഀ
CLEAN-UP ഀ
ഀ
FLOOD WATER CLEAN-UP TIPS ഀ
For information about Flooding and Power Outages the following web sites can help provide reassurance about how to prepare and what to do.ഀ
ഀ
ഀ
ഀ
ഀ
In an emergency call 9-1-1. If you, a family member or others are in immediate danger or your property is threatened by flood, fire or downed power lines call 9-1-1 immediately. For general information, contact NJ Office of Emergency Management - http://www.nj.gov/njoemഀ
ഀ
ഀ
Contact the Center for Disease Control at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/cleanupwater.asp ഀ
An informational brochure is available from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs at http://www.state.nj.us/dca/flood.pdf on Flood Hazards: What you need to know.ഀ
ഀ
INSIDE THE HOME! ഀ
- Keep children and pets out of the affected area until cleanup has been completed. ഀ
- Wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, and goggles during cleanup of affected area. ഀ
- Remove and discard items that cannot be washed and disinfected (such as, mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture, cosmetics, stuffed animals, baby toys, pillows, foam-rubber items, books, wall coverings, and most paper products). ഀ
- Remove and discard drywall and insulation that has been contaminated with sewage or flood waters. ഀ
- Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces (such as flooring, concrete, molding, wood and metal furniture, countertops, appliances, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures) with hot water and laundry or dish detergent. ഀ
- Help the drying process by using fans, air conditioning units, and dehumidifiers. ഀ
- After completing the cleanup, wash your hands with soap and water. Use water that has been boiled for 1 minute (allow the water to cool before washing your hands). ഀ
- Or you may use water that has been disinfected for personal hygiene use (solution of ⅛ teaspoon of household bleach per 1 gallon of water). Let it stand for 30 minutes. If the water is cloudy, use a solution of ¼ teaspoon of household bleach per 1 gallon of water. ഀ
- Wash all clothes worn during the cleanup in hot water and detergent. These clothes should be washed separately from uncontaminated clothes and linens. ഀ
- Wash clothes contaminated with flood or sewage water in hot water and detergent. It is recommended that a Laundromat be used for washing large quantities of clothes and linens until your onsite waste-water system has been professionally inspected and serviced. ഀ
- Seek immediate medical attention if you become injured or ill. ഀ
ഀ
MOLD ഀ
Who should do the cleanup depends on a number of factors. One consideration is the size of the mold problem. If the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet (roughly, less than a 3 ft. by 3 ft. patch), in most cases, you can handle the job yourself, following ഀ
the guidelines below. However:
ഀ
ഀ
- If there has been a lot of water damage, and/or mold growth covers more than 10 square feet you may want to consult with a professional cleaning service.ഀ
- If you choose to hire a contractor (or other professional service provider) to do the cleanup, make sure the contractor has experience cleaning up mold. ഀ
Check references and ask the contractor to follow the recommendations in EPA's Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings,ഀ
the guidelines of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or other guidelines from professional or government organizations.ഀ
- If you suspect that the heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) system may be contaminated with mold (it is part of an identified moisture problem, for instance, or there is mold near the intake to the ഀ
system), consult EPA's guide Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned? before taking further action. Do not run the HVAC system ഀ
if you know or suspect that it is contaminated with mold - it could spread mold throughout the building.ഀ
- If the water and/or mold damage was caused by sewage or other contaminated water, then call in a professional who has experience cleaning and fixing buildings damaged by contaminated water.ഀ
- If you have health concerns, consult a health professional before starting cleanup.ഀ
ഀ
TIPS AND TECHNIQUES TO REMOVE MOLD ഀ
The tips and techniques presented in this section will help you clean up your mold problem. Professional cleaners or remediators may use methods not covered in this publication. Please note that mold may cause ഀ
staining and cosmetic damage. It may not be possible to clean an item so that its original appearance is restored.ഀ
ഀ
- Fix plumbing leaks and other water problems as soon as possible. Dry all items completely.ഀ
- Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely.ഀ
- Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be thrown away if they become moldy. Mold can grow on or fill in the empty spaces and crevices of porous materials, so the mold ഀ
may be difficult or impossible to remove completely.ഀ
- Avoid exposing yourself or others to moldഀ
- Do not paint or caulk moldy surfaces. Clean up the mold and dry the surfaces before painting. Paint applied over moldy surfaces is likely to peel. ഀ
- If you are unsure about how to clean an item, or if the item is expensive or of sentimental value, you may wish to consult a specialist. Specialists in furniture repair, restoration, painting, art restoration ഀ
and conservation, carpet and rug cleaning, water damage, and fire or water restoration are commonly listed in phone books. Be sure to ask for and check references. Look for specialists who are affiliated with ഀ
professional organizations. ഀ
ഀ
ഀ
ഀ
ഀ
ഀ
ഀ
|
