An LSU AgCenter professor and extension housing specialist says a flood-damaged home requires quick action to avoid further damage and health hazards from mold, algae and bacteria. But Claudette Hanks Reichel says personal protection is job one.
“Floodwater means contaminated water. It has sewage in it and it could have chemicals that spilled into the floodwaters. It can contain fire ants and snakes,” Hanks Reichel said, who also directs the LSU AgCenter's LaHouse Resource Center in Baton Rouge. “You should wear protective gear -- rubber boots while wading it, gloves, and goggles.”
Hanks Reichel recommends a respirator rated N-95 or better that can filter mold spores to ensure safety. She says it’s important to remove everything that got wet, including walls, drapes, carpeting and furniture. She says some flooring can be saved like ceramic tile or vinyl that doesn’t have paper backing. Insulation can hold in moisture, especially if floodwaters didn’t recede quickly, according to Hanks Reichel.
“The reason to open the walls is to remove and replace wet insulation because the insulation -- whether fiberglass or cellulose -- will hold that water way too long and you could end up with mold and decay fungi,” Hanks Reichel warned.
Use a wood moisture meter to gauge dampness before installing new insulation and drywall, she says. She also urges homeowners to use flood-resistant material when rebuilding because floods can happen again.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development offers a post-disaster home restoration guide titled “Rebuild Healthy Homes.” It’s also an app.
More information about hazard-resistant and high performance housing is available at www.lsuagcenter.com/LaHouse and by visiting LaHouse Resource Center near the LSU campus in Baton Rouge.
