April 29, 2009

Event helps flood victims deal with mold-plagued homes

A Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service IP video event at 2 p.m. May 5 will answer those questions. Experts from Purdue and the Indiana State Department of Health will teach both victims and volunteers helping with flood cleanup how to fight mold and how to stay safe and healthy while removing it.

"We have talked with the case managers of the long-term recovery committees active in Indiana, and mold issues still remain from 2008 and new mold issues are arising in houses flooded in 2009," said Steve Cain, Purdue Extension specialist and president of the Indiana Voluntary Organization Active in Disaster. "There are many reasons why mold problems persist. Some houses have mold growing in the crawl space, some houses were not cleaned properly and other houses were repaired before they were allowed to properly dry out."

Scheduled topics include:

* "Drying Out the House," Karen Zotz, Purdue Extension program leader for consumer and family sciences

* "Personal Safety in Moldy Homes," Ron Clark, industrial hygienist with the Indiana State Department of Health

* "Cleaning and Removing Mold," Denise Schroeder, educator, Purdue Extension White County

* "Removing Mold from the House," Schroeder

Also included will be a question-and-answer session for participants, information on how to contact the mold team for local presentations, and a list of educational materials available to help victims and volunteers deal with mold.

The event is free and will be offered at several Purdue Extension offices throughout the state. For more information about the program and host sites, contact Purdue Extension at 888-EXT-INFO (398-4636). Additional resources on mold can be found online at https://www.extension.purdue.edu/eden. Click on "Floods & Storms" and scroll down to the word "Molds."

Writer: Jennifer Stewart, (765) 494-6682, jsstewar@purdue.edu

Source: Steve Cain, (765) 494-8410, cain@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-8415;
Steve Leer, sleer@purdue.edu
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