I've been traveling for two weeks in the West, but just now caught the stories about the torrential rains in Louisiana. Greg Little and Cindy Welch, two of our top members, who check in here regularly live in the areas affected. I'd guess many others who are members also. Does anyone have any news?
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Last month I returned from an 9 day trip to find that a pipe had come apart in the first floor bath and it had been pouring water into the basement. The mold and mildew, not good. The cleanup still ongoing and nothing compared to what you are facing, in addition to the business interruption.
I remember Katrina. I was running Arts, Beats and Eats in Pontiac, Mi, a few days later. Artists blown up from the South running from the storm and so relieved to be there. We started a collection for relief and received $$$$ of dollars. Artists from Louisiana had people pressing money into their hands, "take it and distribute it" !!
Do you have food? Are your vehicles okay?
OMG! YOU TOO CONNIE! I'm sorry. That happened to us in Michigan after a 2 month KIOSK It happened on the last day of our Kiosk as we cme home every night-AGAIN, we came home to a sewer pipe breaking in the middle of our place! lost everything due to mold. We had deadly molds after 2 days. I couldn't breathe, but then I have asthma. MOST people cannot tell for months or yrs with MS & other things.YOU TOO need a Certified Industrial Hygienist! I try & help everyone about mold after our problem. Even if you feel good NOW, it does NOT mean you will not have problems later-not worth it. The way insurance is written is wet/rot/ mold & without the certification of YOUR (not just your ins. co) Certified Industrial Hyg.) you won't get the proper help. Good luck to you too. It also affects your animals, but there are only a few Vets in the Country to help with you or them. We had to drive to a Dr. Michael R. Gray in Arizona. He saved our lives. Doctors are NOT taught how to help you with mold problems & they just say, Oh, you're just fine, or MOLD? That's nonsense. Dr. gray (or Grey-sorry) is a very famous Doc. specializing in Mold for people. After katrina, I heard he was working almost around the clock. Anyway, GOOD LUCK~After that long Connie of your place being wet, you need a Cert.Ind. Hyg, quicker than GREG!Again, good luck to you!
We'll see about mine. I had to leave for another trip, sixteen days ago and left my home in the hands of Serv Pro. Will be back there tomorrow and very nervous for the results. The pros have been drying it out all this time.
Connie, Yes, Serv-Pro will help dry things out but they are NOT experts about MOLD! Been there. Please get a CERIFIED INDUSTRIAL HYGIENTIST to do sample & Air tests both.I would check to see who is a reputable one. Whether or NOT if you can smell or see anything, does NOT mean you do not have mold still growing & I would bet you do if it has been that long. Water runs in many strange directions.Again, good luck. IF your home is declared "uninhabitable" like mine was, you will have to move to a residence inn or somewhere else until the rehab is done. This is serious stuff. I am not sure WHO put your pipe together & if you need an attorney or not, but if needed I would call a mold attorney to direct you before your insurance company.Again, I wish you the best. Kathleen
This Cajun is not gonna starve. Got a freezer full of Gumbo, Red beans and rice and plenty grub. The generator has been running non stop since early Sunday morning and it is sure good to have it. It won't power everything but it does power the necessities.
I've been wondering how Cindy Welch and her family are doing. Haven't heard much about the Houma area.
I'll reply since it looks like Cindy hasn't yet.I'm sure she will soon. I sent her a message the other day to check on her and she said they were fine. Glad you guys are ok as well.
Well, Kendra, how about you? I neglected to mention you. How are you?
I'm in Alabama we only had 15 " of rain lol but I live on a 75 ft cliff my town is fine. No flooding near me.
It is bad..but after what we went through in 2005 with hurricane Katrina this seems minor.
We won't have electricity until their projection of Saturday. However I have a generator.
There is one way in and out of where I live and the small bridge that goes over the creek is 6 ft underwater. guess we aren't going anywhere this week!
My building with everything for all my shows was in 3 ft of water but I was able to put most of the stuff high up on shelves and hanging from the walls. Tents were both underwater but heck, they are made to withstand water. I just need to set them up and clean them so they don't get green and stinky.
We have 8 shows coming up starting in about a month and plan to still do them...I just won't be able to create any new work until I am able to get all back to normal...
A lot of people had it much worse...and I feel for them
Greg,
I am sorry for your loss. Listen, I lost my home just after I paid for it in 2001 because of MOLD. After our house fire, the rehab people didn't clean the tiny crawl space in the basement. Toxic mold spores went into the ducts & throughout my entire house & contaminated EVERYTHING as nothing except GLASS can be cleaned. Don't believe the old Hilex bleach tale-that doesn't work. I would go to shows-come home & get sick. This happened for 5 yrs.NOT everyone gets sick in the same way. Mine was my asthma (which was under control before). It attacks whatever is weak of problematic in your system-joints, ect. I know more about MOLD than I would like to. If you got everything OUT & dried within 36 hours, you will be fine, but if your sheet rock & walls, flooring is NOT completely dry within that time, they need to be cut out & REMOVED as there will be toxic mold spores that will go throughout your place. I didn't know ANY of this until it happened to me. You need a certified industrial hygienist to come & do tests right away! MOLD is DEADLY! I just wanted you to know as too many people play it down. You cannot always smell or see it (by that time it is way too late!) The insurance companies try & get out of it as it is their biggest nightmare, so hopefully you can have someone do tests. Stay away from those Home Depot "do it yourself" testing-they're CRAP. Good Luck to you Greg!