Here at Arrow Termite & Pest Control, we are pest experts. For more than 50 years, we’ve been dealing with all sorts of problems involving almost every situation. Since our services stretch the Southern Coast, many of these requests come on the curtails of severe flooding or a hurricane. However, after a flood, the most significant problem in a home isn’t termites or mosquitos. It’s the dangers of mold.
Recently, Houston’s local news station, Channel 2, reached out to us to get our thoughts on the causes and dangers of mold and how it could affect the area after Harvey. In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the Houston area is now populated with flood-damaged homes, some for the first time. While termites and other pests are still a concern, we understand exactly how much long-term damage mold can have on a home if left untreated.
The Danger of Toxic Water Inside Your Home
Right now, the water in Houston area homes is far more toxic than the water outside of homes. It’s not moving. It’s soaking into the wood and running into cracks. It’s making homes toxic, essentially creating a breeding ground for mold. However, the real damage is being done unknowingly, by those who are merely trying to help. Homes are being gutted and dried out, but not dried out enough to prevent mold.
As some experts who understand biology have said, it’s impossible to remove all the mold from these homes, just enough to make them safe. This removal is an arduous task that cannot be done correctly without the proper tools and knowledge. Just because a piece of wood feels dry, doesn’t mean that it is. This mindset that can allow mold to take over a home.
The Mold Damaged Home
A home damaged by floodwaters needs special treatment to remove the dangers of mold safely and effectively. The problem will only get worse over time, so the longer you wait, the more hazardous it can get.
Mold travels through spores in the air and spreads throughout a home. All mold needs to grow is moisture, and that’s all there is inside the wood holding up these Houston homes. We have experienced the devastation a flood can cause in both a home and our community. We understand that homeowners have enough to worry about right now, working hard to return their homes and their minds to a normal state.
Here to Help
Arrow Termite & Pest Control wants to help in any way that we can. We offer free inspections, so there isn’t any reason you shouldn’t schedule one if your home were affected by Harvey. We also know that one of the best ways to help is to spread the correct information on how to deal with this mold. Working with the Louisiana State University’s Agricultural Center, we helped create this Mold Removal Checklist to help you understand what you can do fight back against the mold in your home. Take pictures and don’t wait for an adjuster – start removing the mold now!
We’re ready to do every we need to serve the Houston area right now. If you need us, contact us today.
