On Monday, December 5, 2016, 2 staff members from the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources visited FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Center in the old Kmart in Lumberton. Their purpose was to guide individuals in steps they can take to save their family treasures from flood damages. Dirty water as well as subsequent mold growth lead many to throw away all objects that have come into contact with floods, no matter how precious.
1st, prioritize your damaged belongings. Cleaning and air drying take a lot of space and time. Make sure you devote your resources to those objects that are especially important to you and your family.
2nd, many objects that have been in flood waters can be washed. Use damp rags for wood and paper; wash textiles and ceramics; wipe metals with isopropyl alcohol or ethanol.
3rd, mold will grow after 48 hours. Space items as much as possible and use fans to keep mold spores from settling. If mold does grow, try to air dry the object so that the mold becomes dry and dusty, rather than slimy. Protect yourself before working with mold. Use gloves and a disposable mask (N-95-100). Once mold has a dry texture, use a brush to direct the spores into a HEPA-filtered vacuum, or brush the spores while working outside. Disposable micro fiber cloths are also useful for lifting dry spores from objects. Finally, swab the surface with a rag dampened with isopropyl alcohol to kill remaining mold.
The app recommended by CREST is the Emergency Response and Salvage (developed by the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training.
See documents below for more information:
About Author
