Hurricane Matthew has, of course, now come and gone. Our hearts break for those in Haiti and elsewhere who lost homes and even loved ones in this severe storm. Those left in the wake of the worst of Matthew are starting to slowly pick up the pieces. While most South Floridians are still shaking their heads in wonder, shocked that their homes and lives are left mostly unscathed after such a fierce category 4 storm missed them by a few miles.

Some Floridians, however, were not entirely spared. Heavy rains and storm surge resulted in flooding and subsequent water damage to homes and businesses. After a flood, if the water damage is not addressed as quickly as possible, mold can move in. Leaving property owners with not only water damage to deal with, but mold damage as well.

But what exactly does that look like? For those who have contacted or will be contacting restoration companies in an effort to rid their properties of harmful mold after a flood, what is the protocol? What should the restoration companies be doing to restore the property? The IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification), shares the following five necessary steps that mold removal specialists take when conducting mold remediation after a flood:

1. Determine the degree of contamination. To do so, a mold remediation specialist may need to bring in an Indoor Environmental Professional (IEP) to determine the extent of the mold damage and test for contamination within the facility…Once the IEP has finished the inspection, they will develop a remediation plan for the mold removal specialist with steps to return the property to its pre-loss condition.

2. Set up and verify containment. To make sure mold contamination does not spread to other areas of a facility, the mold remediation specialist will set up containment by creating isolation barriers…Once the containment is verified and the correct amount of pressure is achieved, the removal process can begin.

3. Remove unsalvageable materials. Porous materials and items that cannot be restored or cleaned effectively must be carefully discarded…It is important for the specialist to wear the appropriate personal protective equipment which may include a full face respirator equipped with a P100/OV cartridge, disposable coveralls and nitrile gloves.

4. Clean surfaces with a high-attention to detail. A mold remediation specialist will likely begin the cleaning process by thoroughly vacuuming the contaminated areas using a HEPA vacuum with a high-efficiency filter to catch mold spores. He or she will then begin a detailed cleaning process involving mold removal tools such as a HEPA filtered sander, followed by the damp wiping of surfaces with an effective cleaning solution.

5. Verify remediation. Once cleaning is complete, the IEP will return to verify the remediation was successful. The area must be returned to the dry standard and should be visually dust free with no malodors. In addition, an IEP may perform surface or air sampling as part of the verification that the area is back to normal fungal ecology.

For a more complete explanation of the above or for more information on mold remediation please visit: http://www.iicrc.org/iicrc-mold-remediation-what-happens-after-flood-a-397.html or simply http://www.iicrc.org.

Joe Taylor Restoration’s highly trained technicians closely follow the five steps mentioned above. We utilize the latest technology and consult with certified environmental hygienists to determine the source and variety of the mold in question, as well as the extent of the damage. Then, we work quickly and carefully to set up containment and rid the environment of harmful airborne toxins. Finally, the environmental professionals perform a post test, ensuring that the property is restored to its previous state. If you are in need of mold remediation after a flood caused by Hurricane Matthew or after any other type of water damage, the knowledgeable professionals at Joe Taylor Restoration are ready to show you why we are the best and most comprehensive choice for the job.