Take precautions when cleaning and repairing flood-damaged homes and buildings, the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County advises.
Moisture that enters buildings accelerates mold growth, which can present short and long-term health risks.
Mold often appears as a staining or fuzzy growth on furniture or building materials and may look cottony, velvety, rough or leathery. It may have different colors like white, gray, brown, black, yellow or green.
WHAT TO DO
If you spot mold in your home, the health department advises taking these actions:
•Remove standing water from your home or office.
•Remove wet materials. If mold growth has appeared, carefully remove or clean the moldy material.
•Consider using personal protective equipment — like cleaning gloves and safety goggles — when cleaning or removing mold. Individuals with known mold allergies or asthma should not clean or remove moldy materials.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Health department: beware of mold in water-damaged buildings