#Texas Forensic Roof Testing

[ameliagomez163-blog]

Expert tips for preventing mold growth or remediating mold in your home after a flood

Mold, especially toxic black mold, growth is a big concern after a flood. Experts say even if a home was not flooded, being without power and air conditioning for more than 72 hours can create conducive conditions for mold growth in a structure and resultant health concerns. With over 100,000 species, the color, shape or size of the mold to the naked eye cannot tell you whether mold is toxic or not. That's why it is crucial to have lab testing performed from a mold inspection. "Staccibatrus which often is referred to as 'black mold' is a slow-growing, but quite dangerous mold," Carl Carlson, managing partner for Green Home Solutions, said. Carlson said to keep in mind that other species of mold can elicit an allergenic response in a human as well. "Molds don't need to be any particular color, and all have the potential to cause respiratory distress like asthma and sinusitis or more pervasive infections in the immuno-compromised, plus all molds produce toxins that allow them to survive but which are known to be toxic to humans and pets," Dr. Cameron Jones, director of Biological Health Services and a consultant on indoor air quality and environmental microbiology. Preventing or remediating mold growth after a flood disaster Experts say the number one thing you must do to to prevent mold is remove and replace all water-damaged building elements. "Whilst this is sometimes alarming news, once floodwater has saturated drywall, wall insulation and flooring timbers, mold will immediately begin growing after the water subsides," Jones said. Black mold buildup in the corner of an old house. (Urban78/iStockphoto/Getty Images) Jones said the technique of 'remove and replace' is better than using disinfectants and biocides is because mold contamination quickly leads to massive levels of spores being produced as buildings begin to dry out due to their asexual reproductive life cycle. "These spores are often highly toxic due to mycotoxins and can cross-contaminate a house if it is incorrectly dried using heaters or blowers without adequate containment," Jones said. Jones said once mold is visible and it covers several meters, you have a big problem and should engage a professional. "...removal of water and compromised building materials is what is done first. Drying out and preparing for mold treatment comes next," Carlson said. It is always important to wear appropriate clothing for any cleanup operation such as gloves, a P3 half face respirator with a micron filter, goggles and disposable coveralls. Women who are pregnant, children, the elderly and the immuno-compromised should not spend time inside mold-affected buildings and should minimize contact with mold-affected personal property. "It may also be beneficial to use a HEPA air scrubber or filter to physically extract the ambient mold spores and cell wall fragments to minimize aerosolization of these fine, toxic particles into the air." Mold Removal Doctor Houston

https://goo.gl/maps/mBZm8N5zNQP2 Experts say you should also be very careful when engaging mold remediators who claim they can use non-toxic fogs or gases or sprays to decontaminate your home. "Anything non-toxic won't have enough chemical energy to do useful work, and in this case, killing the fungus but leaving it behind, solves only half the problem, since the mold that remains may still cause allergy or unwanted toxic reactions. Therefore, be extremely cautious with claims that sound too good to be true. The same goes for mold inspections and assessments" This is the sewage water damage recovery process in a residential home. The flooring is ripped off, and the rooms are sprayed with biowash. Industrial fans and dehumidifiers is placed in the room for the drying and restoration process. The process will last three days. (Ceneri/Getty Images) If you engage a professional to inspect your home, you want to ask questions regarding how their sampling will lead to comprehensive testing of the whole home. If the inspector doesn't take adequate outdoor controls or only samples one or two rooms, then the report is hardly going to provide answers to the potential risk posed by each room and the basement and the attic or roof void. In many cases, the role of inspections and assessments is to provide a forensic level assessment of the likely risks from mold cells and spores and how these may impact on the built environment. Remember the fewer the samples taken at an inspection, the lower the quality of the overall recommendations. In many cases, an extensive removal of the water-damaged building materials is the only sensible approach to removing the dangers posed by mold and their spores. Usually the more porous the material, the less likely they can be successfully salvaged. Most branded mold disinfectants sold commercially are mainly useful for small mold-affected areas and were not designed for homes that have suffered severe water damage. If you want to use a disinfectant, then preferably use an intermediate or high-level hospital grade disinfectant that is registered with the EPA and rated as suitable against bacteria, fungi and viruses. These products normally state that they are bactericidal, tuberculocidal, fungicidal (against asexual spores but not necessarily dried chlamydospores or sexual spores) and virucidal. Consult with a specialty chemical supply store in preference to using Houston Texas Mold Removal domestic-grade products like vinegar or bleach, which cannot be relied on to destroy within a practical period of time those bacteria, fungi, spores or virus that may be present in water-damaged homes. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification Mold Remediation provides a specific set of practical standards for water damage restoration and more information can be obtained at www.iicrc.org. For more safety and preparedness. Mold Removal Doctor Houston 7872 Green Lawn Dr. Houston, TX 77088 (713) 396-3959tips, visit AccuWeather.com/Ready. m http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/09/22/expert-tips-for-preventing-mold-growth-or-remediating-mold-in-your-home-after-flood.html

[omcik-blog]

New Post has been published on OmCik

New Post has been published on http://omcik.com/insurers-ache-for-qualified-inspectors-after-u-s-hurricanes/

Insurers ache for qualified inspectors after U.S. hurricanes

(Reuters) – Insurers are scrambling to find inspectors in Texas and Florida after fierce hurricanes battered the states one after the other, causing tens of billions of dollars’ worth of property damage in less than two weeks.

Although insurers maintain some number of inspectors, known as claims adjusters, across the U.S. year-round, they must redeploy staff from other areas or hire contract workers to fill gaps when catastrophes like Hurricanes Harvey and Irma strike. The speed with which they can do so is critical to residents and business owners awaiting insurance payments.

“The one-two punch of Harvey and Irma is no question challenging to the industry,” said Kenneth Tolson, who heads the U.S. property and casualty division of Crawford & Co, which provides claims adjusters and staff after disasters.

Adjusters investigate claims on behalf of property insurers like Travelers Cos Inc, Hartford Financial Services Group Inc, Allstate Corp, State Farm and Farmers Insurance. Many other policies are backed by federal or state flood insurance programs.

Texas and Florida together have more than 340,000 licensed adjusters, according to state agencies, but it was unclear precisely how many were on the ground. Insurers and industry groups said thousands were headed to affected areas from other parts of the United States.

On Sunday afternoon, Hartford was prepared to send adjusters into Irma-battered areas “as authorities allow access,” spokeswoman Kelly Carter said. Hartford inspectors from Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky were poised to assist, she said.

Zurich Insurance Group AG had Florida-based claims adjusters riding out the storm locally on Sunday, with plans to begin visiting commercial properties as soon as possible, spokesman David Hilgen said.

Once Irma passes, a group of risk engineers at Zurich’s Tampa hub plan to fan out across South Florida to assess damage alongside forensic accountants, building consultants and mitigation contractors, he said.

Some are using drones to help.

Brent Hazen, a Farmers adjuster and drone pilot, spoke to Reuters while inspecting a roof in Missouri City, Texas. The drone buzzed above the house for 11 minutes, a process that would have taken an hour otherwise, Hazen said.

“It is … safer because it means I don’t have to get up on the roof,” he said.

FACT OF LIFE

Insurers have been put to the test before. After Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy in 2005 and 2012, it took months for many property owners to receive payouts, partly because there were too few adjusters with the needed expertise.

Novice errors like not pulling off drywall to inspect for hidden damage, or not being familiar with software used for loss estimates, can reduce or delay insurance payments, adding to hardships residents are already facing.

“It’s a fact of life after every disaster that there’s a shortage of experienced adjusters,” said Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, a consumer advocacy group.

The inspector shortage may be worse this time because insurers have not faced hurricanes of this magnitude – certainly not two in a row – in half a century, industry experts said.

Catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide expects $10 billion in insured losses related to Harvey, and perhaps another $50 billion for Irma. Early estimates are likely to change, and do not include claims covered by the government.

Many large insurers use their own adjusters, while smaller and midsize rivals are more likely to hire outside help. For-hire inspectors can charge $1,000-$2,000 per claim in the aftermath of major disasters, industry sources said.

Work on the ground can be punishing.

After Hurricane Harvey, Steve Sherin, executive general adjuster for Zurich’s North American unit, spent five days in Houston. He left his hotel at 4:30 a.m. each day to begin long days surveying damage at commercial properties.

Last Thursday, he spent six hours walking through ankle-deep water and mud in one building, surrounded by the stench of dead fish decomposing on a parking garage floor and the loud noise of cleaning equipment. His workday lasted about 17 hours.

“It’s tiring beyond belief,” Sherin said, “but there’s a lot of purpose in what we do.”

LONG PROCESS

For property owners, an inspection is often the first step in a longer, paperwork-heavy process.

Few adjusters can immediately authorize payments, especially if policyholders are insured though state agencies or the National Flood Insurance Program.

Richard Campell, whose Houston home was flooded, said his inspector was armed with an iPad and estimating software. The adjuster measured rooms, asked about water levels and photographed mounds of ruined belongings in the yard, he said.

Campell, 67, must now submit an inventory with price replacement costs, including details like his refrigerator’s model and serial number. Still, he is grateful that the inspector reached his home in only five days.

“It was the luck of the draw,” he said.

Sean Maxwell, 27, also of Houston, had to leave her mother’s flooded home in a boat. An adjuster visited last week, and the family is now waiting for documents explaining the payout.

“The funny thing is, when it comes in the mail, I don’t know how we’re going to get it because we don’t live there,” Maxwell said.

Reporting by Suzanne Barlyn and Catherine Ngai in New York; Additional reporting by Nick Carey in Missouri City, Texas; Editing by Lauren Tara LaCapra and Jonathan Oatis

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

[theproperreporter]

1/4/17, Straight to the Luna, Spirit, and...

Good morning! And welcome to 2017. Big hopes (from the world according to pop media) that all sorts of pretentious notions will be catered to and stressed unnecessarily… Big hopes (from me) that we all are able to pull our virtual heads out of our soc-med butts and focus on the common sense of thangs…

That said:

Apparently the legal cannabis sales industry is booming bigger and faster than the dot.com boom of early 2000. Weed… Hope this doesn’t mean cannibipsters will now invade cities and drive up housing costs because that’d be totally unchill man. The industry posted around $12 billion in revenue for 2016. Homie down the road still posted with dime bags he weighs heavy because he’s nice like that. I got five on it!

DC Cannabis Coalition is handing out the doshia gratis on inauguration day by the way…

Anti-surveillance camo clothes are a thing now. Ah, wasn’t sure we’d be here this year, but here we are… A Berlin artist has launched the “Hyperface project” which will use patterns in clothing and textile that confuses our friendly big brotherly society categorizing facial recognition softwares by overloading the computers’ vision algorithms. Face it, we live in an age of computerized vision algorithms and it’s time to fight back with Face Clothes! Somebody please make that a thing before Zuckerberg does…

West Virginia has hired a meth addict as sheriff. And now he’s charged with grand larceny for stealing; meth! Of course. Don’t police forces conduct drug screens to avoid this type of situation? That’s not good police work there lou… Well, least we know who the junkie is in them there parts!

A man, imprisoned for 25 years on rape charges, will be set free after forensics reveals his total lack of connection to the crime. Sort of good news… A woman was still attacked and certainly there will be no form of legitimate compensation for the theft of a man’s quarter century but ya know… Well wishes to William Carini.

Dylan Roof addresses the court to assert that he’s murderous total douche bag scum. Enjoy your free fall to hell kid…

Some rappers in Texas decided to test the professionalism of police recently by dressing up as bank robbers at a credit union and filming for a rap video. This a PR stunt for the rap group or the cops? The lucky little poets even had real guns (not loaded) for the shoot!.. The rappers are quoted as thanking police “bros.” for not shooting them dead. Yo-yo…

A sit-in at the office of Trump’s terrible choice for attorney general has resulted in some arrests of NAACP personnel. The non-violent protest is aimed at removing the nominee, Jeff Sessions, from any potential major sessions… Man; sit-ins; in Alabama… Eventually worked before!.. Power to the people!

Okay then it’s a start. Not a wholly great start, but not too bad… Happy New Year all!