Flooded California Neighborhood

Flood Prone Areas of California

Earthquakes aren’t the only natural disasters in California. Floods are actually quite common in the Golden State, especially in the regions listed below. Most of the floods in California are caused by high levels of precipitation, snowmelt, and levee breaches, but other natural disasters, like earthquakes, tsunamis, and mudslides, can also lead to water damage along the West Coast. No matter where you live, floods and water damage can devastate your home and your health. Take the right precautions to protect yourself from floods and get the proper professional treatment for your home after you experience a water damage event.  Here are the top three spots in California prone to floods and water damage:

1. Sacramento

The city of Sacramento sits at the confluence of two of the Central Valley’s major natural river systems, the American River and the Sacramento River. Historically, Sacramento has been prone to frequent flooding, as with much of the Central Valley. Rainfall and snowmelt in the springtime generated frequent river overflows, creating vast, seasonal lakes in the lowlands of the valley. The Sacramento and American …

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Mold in the News Headlines

Deadly Black Mold Infests the Headlines

A new and rapidly growing hazard has been spotted in the headlines these days. Mold—deadly black mold, more specifically—is popping up in local evening news programs, national publications, and radio news reports.  Stories about illnesses related to mold infestations and lawsuits over damages from mold-infested buildings are spreading through the media, raising awareness about the potential dangers of black mold, otherwise known as stachybotrys atra or stachybotrys chartarum.

Black mold is one of the rare varieties of toxigenic molds, one that releases mycotoxin particles into the air. Black mold isn’t always black. It’s typically slimy and white at first, turning darker over time. There are millions of different kinds of mold, or moulds, and it’s nearly impossible to tell what kind is present in your home based on the color. The only way to tell for sure what is black mold and what isn’t is to have a professional test completed using air and surface samples. Toxic mold can cause serious health problems for people who are exposed to high concentrations of it. Short-term effects include allergy and flu-like symptoms, …

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Flooded Apartment Floor

New York Tenant Rights with Water Damage

New York State is well-known for many reasons, one of which is New York City, otherwise known as “The Big Apple.”  This culturally diverse city is comprised of several boroughs, each distinct from the rest. New York State also contains a lovely expanse of wilderness, with a variety of sandy beaches, historic estates, and many artist colonies in the remote regions. Home to the oldest running newspaper in the nation, the “New York Post,” as well as the meeting place of the first women’s rights convention in Seneca Falls in 1848, New York State has played a large role in the history of the United States. This historic region is a prime location for many potential renters, and it is necessary for these individuals to understand their rights as tenants in New York. This is especially true when it comes to water damage, as New York State is known to suffer from snow storms, blizzards, and flash floods during the winter season.

Water damage can cause a variety of problems for a structure and its occupants. If you are contemplating …

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Mold versus Asbestos

Mold vs. Asbestos

Mold and asbestos are two potential household hazards that receive plenty of attention from the media. News stories and articles about mold illnesses, asbestos lawsuits, and, of course, mold and asbestos removal are all over the headlines these days. But are black mold symptoms worse than asbestos diseases? Which airborne pollutant infects the lungs faster? Which one is easier to remediate? This article will begin with some background about mold and asbestos and then compare and contrast their characteristics.

What is black mold?

Mold is a kind of fungus that can grow on just about any surface, in a wide range of environments. Although not every kind of mold has been identified and classified, some estimates put the number of different mold species in the hundreds of thousands. Most people are concerned about so-called “black mold,” or “toxic mold,” the scientific name of which is Stachybotrys chartarum (AKA Stachybotrys atra). Stachybotrys does look black in color most of the time, but it has been known to appear white or greenish. It grows on cellulose-rich surfaces, which includes common building materials, …

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indoor-air-quality-kids

Importance of Indoor Air Quality

Many of those responsible for managing properties or transacting real estate don’t understand the importance that Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) plays in the lives of those who occupy a property.

A variety of indoor contaminants such as mold, allergens, lead dust, asbestos fibers, radon gas, and chemicals from building materials can become airborne, making occupants sick, possibly in a permanent way. These contaminants are not visible to human observers, but can dramatically reduce the quality of the breathing air within a property.

Visual assessments for these contaminants can play a part in identifying their possible presence and the depth at which the problem exists, but a visual assessment does not scientifically determine their presence nor does it determine if these suspect contaminants have gone airborne. Testing can determine if suspect mold, lead, asbestos or other harmful substances are in the air or on surfaces and the concentration that exists. Concentration of a contaminant is another important factor that can be the difference between a health condition developing over the long-term versus the short-term.

We invite everyone to learn more about Indoor …

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