Latest IAQTV Video Discusses Flood Cleanup & Indoor Air Quality

IAQTV on You Tube has produced a number of basic videos discussing various indoor air quality (IAQ) topics.  The most recent one discusses the problems with flood water and the need to dry areas quickly to prevent IAQ problems.  http://youtu.be/3Q1tnHFkPF0

A few things not discussed is to make sure the drying company you choose to help you with flood cleanup has experience and is qualified.  The American Council for Accredited Certifications (ACAC) has two certifications in structural drying.  The Council-certified Structural Drying Remediator (CSDR) and the Council-certified Structural Drying Supervisor (CSDS) these individuals perform water damage restoration services.  For example, a CSDR or CSDS can safely mitigate water losses resulting from floods, fires, hurricanes and other disasters as well as broken pipes and water mains.  These professionals have verified knowledge of the principles, techniques, equipment and regulations relevant to structural drying as described in widely published industry texts and accredited standards.  Visit the ACAC's website to find companies that hire CSDRs or CSDSs.

Rainwater Flooded Basement

In addition, the term usually used for flood waters is black water.  Black water is typically defined as containing or potentially containing harmful contaminants.  It would include floodwaters containing soil and any sewage water.  All raw sewage is contaminated with microbes, including bacteria, protozoa, mold, fungi, and viruses.  Many are pathogenic to humans.  So heed the warnings in the video and get some professional help if you find yourself in this unfortunate position.

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Flooding Devastating Upstate New York, Vermont, & Quebec, Too

Flooded Area of Plattsburgh 

In the beginning of May, we traveled to Plattsburgh, New York to perform our annual asbestos refresher training in the area.  The week before we arrived we started hearing a little about the flooding of Lake Champlain.  This flooding was causing some problems and damage in the area.  Alot has been written about the flooding of the Mississippi River and its impact to various cities and areas along its banks.  Because the media's attention is focused on those areas, the media has not paid much attention to the Lake Champlain flooding.
The average water level for Lake Champlain is 95.5 feet and the flood tage for the lake is considered 100 feet.  The previous high-water mark for the lake was set in 1993 at 101.89 feet.  Preliminary high-watermark estimates for 2011 is 103.2 feet.  The lake is being filled with snow-melt and incessant rain from the Adirondacks in New York State and the Green Mountains of Vermont.  In addition, the Richelieu River in Canada, which Lake Champlain flows into, was at record levels, too, prompting severe flooding there.  It's estimated that it could take until July to drop below flood stage levels. 
In Vermont floodwaters threaten to cut-off about 7,500 people who live in the Grand Island Counties while in New York over 100 people were driven out of their homes and 48 people were being sheltered by the American Red Cross in the Crete Memorial Civic Center, after the flooding at Lakeside Apartments, in Plattsburgh.
The flooding in this region could cause some major issues.  The slow rate the water is receding will give fungi (mold and mildew) and bacteria a chance to grow and fester.  The following video on YouTube, Avoiding IAQ Problems after a Flood will help you handle many of the issues that flooding brings to the table.     

Related articles

• In Vermont, overflowing Lake Champlain floods (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• In Vermont, overflowing Lake Champlain floods (troyrecord.com)
• In Vt., engorged Lake Champlain slowly tortures (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Severe Storms Wreak Havoc From Vermont to Georgia (abcnews.go.com)
• Violent Northeast storms bring flooding, outages (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Military help to double for flooded Quebec region (theglobeandmail.com)
• Vt. flooding raises Champlain pollution concerns (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Residents brace for more rain along Richelieu River in Quebec (canada.com)