“The black mold is so bad inside one metro rental home that a mom and her five kids are moving out after a mold expert said the levels are the second highest he’s ever found. The landlord says he had no idea the mold had gotten so bad, but he now promises to fix it.” (Read the full article on Fox4KC.com)

The trouble comes in when the land lord, well meaning I’m sure, recommended vinegar as the solution. Its somewhat like handing someone a coat hangar to fend off a charging rhinoceros - not much good.

If you’ve found black mold in your home, take it seriously. The long term consequences of black mold exposure can be devastating and even deadly. If you’re looking for professional help, choose a remediator carefully. Experience is key.

Know someone who has been affected by black mold or have our own story to share? Send us your story!

Keep fighting!

“As far as mold damage goes, there also needs to be proof of some type of effort to prevent it, even if it’s just a few Clorox bottles.”

You can read the rest of the story on KFYRTV.com.

What does this mean for you? Talk to your insurance company and find out if they cover mold damage and if so, what are the stipulations? What preventative efforts do you need to have taken? Will they cover the cost of remediation? Ask those questions. If you don’t get good answers, get a new insurance agent. Don’t have insurance?  Check out one of Dave Ramsey’s Endorsed Local Providers. They are a great place to start your search.

Here’s an excerpt from the article:

On a Wrightwood online community forum, parents and community members this week have been raising concerns over a long-term mold problem that they say may have gone unaddressed for years. Online posters point to examples of students and volunteers working in the theater program reporting bronchitis and other illnesses.

Read the response from school officials on the Victorville Daily Press.

Jonathan Wold
MoldBlogger.com

SEA BROOK, Texas – Hurricane Ike caused millions in damages and now some homeowners are finding they have to fight the mold the storm left behind.

Comments:

Expect a wave of more and more stories about damages caused by the recent hurricanes. This story shared some personal testimonies of victims of the mold damage and steps they took to fight back. Includes a video.

Source: http://www.khou.com/news/local/stories/khou081002_jj_ike_mold.d378a420.html

Residents of the small southwest Iowa town of Farragut can stop driving to Shenandoah to get their mail. 

The post office in Farragut has reopened three months after it was closed because of mold.

The building was closed in July and all mail for the town of about 500 people was sent to Shenandoah, about five miles away.

Comments:

It’s nice to see a victory in the battle against mold. Closing a post office for 3 months had to be a bit of a challenge for the residents so I’m sure they’re appreciating the victory as well.

Let’s keep those success stories rolling in!

Jonathan Wold
MoldBlogger.com

Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-ia-postofficereopens,0,4306131.story

The menace is mold, and it’s ravaging water-damaged homes and buildings all over Galveston in the island’s latest battle wrought by Hurricane Ike.

Residents and business owners who were finally allowed last week to inspect their properties may have been relieved to find that the structures survived floodwaters and high winds. But many discovered the damage done by various species of mold left to breed wildly in the nurturing environs of damp, hot buildings whose doors and windows were sealed for nearly two weeks.

Comments:

We can expect a growing trend of cities in the hurricane aftermath reporting mold epidemics.

For those in the effected areas, be sure to proceed with caution. In addition to any safety precautions recommended by local experts and authorities, we recommend a few tips:

• Don’t Take Risks – Mold isn’t something to mess around with. Make sure your family is safe. Returning to a home overrun by mold carries a great risk.
• Mold Hates Sunshine & Fresh Air – If you decide to fight the mold, start by making sure to get your windows open and lots of fresh air within the affected areas.

Source: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/morenews/6031143.html

An Oklahoma town that was the scene of severe flooding earlier this month is now having problems with mold.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said the mold problems in some parts of Blackwell could be hazardous to the health of the residents there.

Comments:

With Hurricane season in full swing, this story is a good sample of what many other towns will be facing as they deal with an explosion in mold growth within the affected areas.

Further Recommended Reading:

• Symptoms of Household Mold Exposure

Source: http://www.koco.com/news/17575508/detail.html

Parents of children who attended an elementary school in Greenwhich are questioning their child’s health and safety when it comes to putting their child back in school. The walls of Greenwhich elementary school’s modular classrooms were founded infested with mold.

The rates of mold growth are rising across the country, especially in public schools. What can be done?

On Saturday, the Greenwich Board of Education closed down Hamilton Avenue Elementary after mold was discovered in the ceilings. Environmental crews in protective suits have been working to rid the building of the potential health hazard.

The school is actually a temporary facility, a modular unit built three years ago to house 370 students while a brand new school is under construction.

To read the rest of this story and other interesting twists, visit ABC 7 News, Mold Closes CT School

Further Recommended Reading :

• Top 3 Things Mold Needs to Grow
• 12 Tips to Prevent Moisture and Mold

Joslyn from the MoldBlogger team

Source: ABC 7 News

Whether to hire a mold remediator or buy a do-it-yourself mold removal kit is one of the most popular questions asked by homeowners. Which one is more thorough, more accurate, cheaper?

I would say it depends on the situation – and how much mold contamination there could be in the home.

Mold News at 5

Reporters from channel five news investigate the actions of local Mold Remediators. According to reports, Arizona has more trouble with mold contamination than most states.

So what is the result of these investigations?

A CBS 5 investigation uncovered several companies willing to charge thousands to get rid of something that could have been cleaned up with a wet cloth.

“The hardest part is that I lost everything because of their incompetence,” said homeowner Denise Stine.

To read the rest of the story visit 5 Investigates Mold Remediators

Further Recommended Reading :

• Do You Need to Hire a Mold Remediator?
• 5 Levels of Mold Remediation

Joslyn from the MoldBlogger team

Source: News at 5 Mold Remediators Investigated