Silent threat: How mold after flooding can endanger your health

AccuWeather

Mold can rapidly become a hidden danger, threatening your health. Recognizing the risks and following cleanup advice are essential for protecting yourself and your home.

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00:00Mold, it can begin to grow rapidly after flooding, and once it takes hold, it can quickly spread

00:05throughout a building, creating a potentially hazardous environment.

00:09The sooner we can get the water damage cleared up and get the environment dry, the less risk

00:13there is of mold growing, but obviously the sooner the better.

00:17And it's hard.

00:18People are dealing with a lot, but you know, cleaning up the water and the mold remediation

00:22is a really big part of it.

00:24It's not just a structural issue either.

00:26It can become a serious health concern.

00:29Experts warn that mold exposure affects people differently.

00:32Some may not notice any symptoms, but others could experience breathing difficulties, nasal

00:37congestion, watery eyes, or even a persistent cough.

00:40Dr. McMurdo says the Environmental Protection Agency offers extensive resources to help

00:46with safe mold removal after flooding.

00:48Their website has a lot of advice about when you need to call in an expert, when you can

00:52do it by yourself.

00:54If you are doing it by yourself, and again you can, it's really important to wear protection,

00:59so like an N95 mask, gloves and goggles, and really make sure that as much as you can you're

01:05working in a well-ventilated space so you've got some air flow.

01:08Again, the sooner you address the issue, the less likely you are to face long-term health

01:13complications.

01:14Taking these extra steps can help ensure a safer environment for you and your family.

01:20For AccuWeather, I'm Allie Reid.

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