Post-Ike illnesses in Galveston?

[rainbow4321]

http://www.khou.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=30328


Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 8:30 pm

My boss and I got on Galveston today. They let us in because we were in one of our work trucks. We are an air conditioning, heating and refrigeration company in Galveston. After taking in the destruction on the way in after the causeway, we traveled to The Seawall via 57th Street. Then, we headed west. He lives in the neighborhood behind The Breakers Condominiums on 77th Street.

His home got about 2 feet of water in it. The tile floors were still wet and, of course, what carpet he has on the first floor was soaked. Immediately, I noticed "fuzzy" mold growing on the furniture, kitchen cabinets and other items. It was not a pretty sight. After accessing the damage, we thought it would be a good idea to pull up the carpets and padding. After getting one room done, he got a call from one of his neighbors. I won't mention any names, but supposedly a local businessman in the area had been in Galveston a couple of days earlier. I don't know how long he was there, but apparently he contracted some type illness from working at his properties. He is now in the hospital and he isn't expected to survive. After hearing this information, my boss thought it might be a good idea if we didn't do any further tear out, even though we were wearing 3M face masks.

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Islanders allowed to return within a week

GALVESTON — Island residents will be allowed to come home within the next seven days, City Manager Steve LeBlanc announced Friday. He would not commit to a specific start date but said the phased re-entry would take three days.

Residents who live behind the seawall will be allowed in first, followed by residents with addresses between the end of the seawall and Jamaica Beach and then the rest of the West End. Conditions will not be as nice as they were before, he said.


But LeBlanc said he would not ask the Federal Emergency Management Agency to bring portable toilets to distribute through the neighborhoods.

“That’s a bit impractical,” he said. “The best thing to do is to get our own sewer system back up and running.”

[uppityperson]

1. N95 mask. If you work on mold, make sure you wear a mask that is rated at least N95

If it doesn't have a rating, save it for sometime when you just need a dust mask. Mold needs N95 at minimum.

That said, crap. I hope he survives and more don't get sick dealing with mold.

[rainbow4321]

2. I just hope it won't be one of those post- 9/11 "the air is safe" deals

I cannot imagine what the affected area will be like...and you know there will not be a big push to get people or to tell people about what kind of personal protection gear to wear. God only knows what all is mixed in with all that sand/muck that people will be stepping thru. Not to mention what they can potentially inhale as they re-enter their wet/damaged homes.


http://www.maacenter.org/news/galveston-residents-face-risk-of-exposure-to-asbestos-following-hurricane-ike.html

Authorities have said that much larger challenges have presented themselves aside from simply clearing the road ways of debris.

In what is described as a “toxic soup” of asbestos, lead, gasoline, and human waste, authorities are concerned about health hazards on the island.

Dangerous levels of asbestos have appeared in preliminary air quality tests and will likely continue to do so as asbestos materials dry out.

Total damages to the city are estimated at $10 billion. Cleanup costs will include funding dedicated for the safe removal of all health hazards, including asbestos where it is found. Exposure to asbestos following a natural disaster such as Ike is of great concern, as exposure to this toxin causes mesothelioma cancer.

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. The rumors of the biological lab contamination

might not just be rumors. There is however some nasty stuff
in houses including its own chemicals and toxics left in the cupboard
or under the sink. Use a level 3 mask and gloves.

[rainbow4321]

4. "Use a level 3 mask and gloves"

Exactly. And what are the odds of the general public being educated on this? Even if they are, how many of these personal protection equipment will be available to be purchased..they can't even get frigging ICE down there. Technically, to protect EVERYone that returns, even small children should have these on, not just the adults who may be digging thru what debris is left of their homes.
I'd like to know if there are ongoing air and soil samples being done and if so, are they going to release the information to the public.