Floods: More Than Just Water Damage: Evaluating Mold Remediation Methods and the Need for Urgent RemediationIntroduction: During the 2008 Iowa City Floods and in Cedar Rapids, 1,400 homes were destroyed and caused approximately $750 million in damage (1). When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, more than 15 million people were affected and damages reached $110 billion, with the majority of costs directly attributable to flooding (2). Of those homes, about 46 percent had mold damage. 17 percent were considered heavily contaminated (3). The costs of these floods increase each year as population and development increase. Flooding can cost families dearly, but the costs go beyond just property damage. Flooding creates the ideal conditions for mold growth (warm, humid environments on nutrient-rich wallboard or furniture). The resulting mold infestation can lead to medical problems that add to costs for a family. Common symptoms related to mold exposure range from non-specific symptoms (i.e. runny nose, watery eyes, and cough) to more severe respiratory problems (exacerbation of allergies and asthma, as well as Respiratory infections (4) Worse, for those who are immunocompromised (children, elderly, HIV/AIDS, etc.) exposure to mold can lead to serious systemic infections (5). develop, it proliferates quickly; visible growth can begin in as little as 24 hours under perfect conditions To effectively reduce the cost of damage (both to homes and to health), mold infestations must be quickly corrected (3). ). Without rapid and complete mold removal, mold in flooded homes will spread and penetrate deeper into the structure of the homes.... .. middle of article...... Retrieved from http ://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23802688 Lowe, S. (2013). Health problems among low-income parents as a result of. Hurricane Katrina. Health Psychol, 4, 359-65.9. Turner, S. (2013). Pharmacoeconomic evaluation of voriconazole versus liposomal amphotericin b in the empirical treatment of invasive fungal infections. BMC Infect Dis., retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/242767710. Moss, R. (2013). Treatment options in severe fungal asthma and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. Eur Respir J., 5 (2013), retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/243117611. Apisarnthanarak, A. (2013). Nosocomial infections and their prevention after extensive flooding. Curr Opin InfectDis. , 4, 359-65.12. Hoppe, K. (2012). Assessment of airborne exposures and health in flooded homes undergoing renovation. Indoor air., 6(446-56),