Flooding can impact communities for years to come. Performing mitigation and repairs is costly, which means many structures remain compromised by water damage and/or mold.
The Flooding
In 2013, Colorado saw record breaking rainfall over the course of a few days. This event was caused by a unique weather scenario where a cold front over Colorado was met with the humid and warm air from the southern United States. Why is this still relevant a decade later in 2023?
The flooding affected the entire Front Range of Colorado (from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs). Some areas were hit harder, and in Boulder the flooding led to about 17 inches of water falling between September 11 and September 15th. This is considerable because counties such as Boulder County only see 20.7 inches in annual precipitation. Within days, some parts of the front range experienced the same amount of rain as they typically do in the span of an entire year.
Dr. Dorninger is a local doctor based in Louisville, and he specializes in helping patients with chronic illness. One of his specialties is working with individuals affected by mold/biotoxin illness. Dr. Doringer’s understanding of exposed individuals was impacted by the Colorado floods, and he shared those experiences on the Tuesday Talk Show podcast.
“Boulder got hit really hard. And during that time, we had patients who were doing pretty well with us, and they backslid. They regressed quite intensely. We had patients that had never gotten better under our care, and they got worse. And I said ok, lightbulb, something has changed in this environment post flood. I started evaluating and researching the science and medicine behind water damage buildings, and we call them WDB’s. Water damaged building means that a building has been infiltrated with water in some way, shape, or form. It could be an external water source (something like a roof leak) but it could also be an internal source, like a leaky faucet that is interfacing with a 2×4.” (Source: Dr. Dorninger ND, LAc | Podcast | 3/2/18 1:40 – 2:33)
Aftermath and Health Effects
This flood provided substantial data for local professionals involved in healthcare and environmental services. It helped to validate general concerns that people have about water damaged buildings, and how those structures present substantial health concerns. To ensure that every structure in the United States is dry, properly waterproofed and without leaks would take decades and unfathomable amounts of capital. Unfortunately, this leaves some at-risk individuals with very few alternatives in terms of occupying a healthy building.
After experiencing a flood, an individual cannot instantly sell their property and move into a non-water damaged property. The process of moving or repairing a property can take weeks or months. In many cases with flooding, insurance does not typically cover those claims. There are certain qualifications for flood insurance, and not everyone meets those qualifications. This often turns an emergency into a multi-week or multi-month scenario, which is even more complicated when families and children are involved.
This means many residential and commercial buildings with water damage or mold remain that way, sometimes for years. For most people, it is simply easier and cost effective to postpone the work required to keep a structure safe for its occupants.
You can learn more about the health effects of flooding with official resources from the US government. In 2006, the EPA published a report called Mold Prevention Strategies and Possible Health Effects in the Aftermath of Hurricanes and Major Floods. If you are in an area affected by flooding, this document can provide more insight on general recommendations and suggested courses of action.
Avoiding Future Water Emergencies
Expert foundation and waterproofing companies can provide useful evaluations when it comes to the integrity of your structure. While it may not be possible to prevent every form of water intrusion, there are many things you can do that will put your home or building in a vastly better position:
1) Hire a company that specializes in foundations, waterproofing, and structural integrity.
2) Perform regular plumbing and roofing inspections to determine vulnerabilities.
3) Shut off your main water valve if you won’t be home for multiple days or longer.
Purchasing A Home Affected By Flooding
It’s important to do your due diligence when shopping for a new home. There are maps available of the 2013 Colorado Floods that can help determine if you would be in an affected area. If you are someone with CIRS/Lyme/Mold sensitivities, it can be extremely time consuming to discover a home is affected by water damage or mold after the purchase is already complete.
If you cannot avoid purchasing a home or building affected by mold, just remember it is possible to safely remediate it by using the proper steps in procedures.
Concluding
Water damage is highly destructive in both short- and long-term circumstances. Repairs are expensive and inconvenient in the short term but avoiding them can lead to costly mold remediation. Many individuals cannot pay out of pocket when it comes to residential structures, and repairs are not always the top priority of a commercial building owner. This means sensitive individuals need to remain highly vigilant about the environments they occupy.
If you think your health is being affected by water damaged buildings in Colorado, we have a list of doctors that understand the risk and effects of living in a structure with water damage and/or mold.
Have questions about mold testing or mold removal? Our customer service team is happy to assist you anytime.
Call 303-955-7072 to be connected with Pure Restore’s remediation team.
