Residents of Missouri and Illinois Begin Cleanup Efforts as Rivers Recede

The Mississippi River and other waterways across Illinois and Missouri have finally begun to recede after flooding to levels not seen in some areas since the historic floods of 1993. The flooding was the result of heavy rains that dumped over a foot of precipitation in the region.  

The deluge resulted in extensive damage to countless homes, businesses and schools. “Many property owners have begun the long process of assessing the damage and cleaning up the mess, but residents are cautioned to be aware of potential hazards that may now exist,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “Floodwaters often contain everything from sewage to chemicals and a wet building quickly becomes a breeding ground for mold and bacteria.”  

Many of the damaged properties have been soaked for over a week and wet building materials, furnishing and belongings that are not properly dried within 24 to 48 hours can begin to support the growth of mold. Property owners and tenants should also be on the lookout for mold in out of sight places, such as in basements, crawl spaces, wall cavities and attics. Mold can easily become airborne during cleanup and rebuilding efforts. If inhaled, some types can cause disease in people with a weakened or suppressed immune system, trigger asthma in some people and cause allergic reactions in others.  

Some older properties may also have health and safety concerns due to the presence of lead-based paints and asbestos-containing materials. Demolition, repair and rebuilding efforts can aerosolize these materials.  

To help identify these and other indoor environmental hazards, EMSL Analytical, Inc. has laboratories across North America, including a facility in St. Louis to assist flood victims. Sampling supplies, easy-to-use test kits and a comprehensive array of testing services to identify sewage contamination, mold, bacteria, lead, asbestos and other potential contaminants are available. EMSL has also sponsored a video about flood cleanup and indoor air quality (IAQ) issues that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/3Q1tnHFkPF0.  

For more information about water damage, mold, IAQ or other environmental, health and safety issues, please visit www.EMSL.com or email  info@EMSL.com . To learn more about EMSL’s indoor environmental test kits, please visit www.EMSLTestKits.com. To contact the St. Louis laboratory call (314) 577-0150.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of environmental, indoor air quality, consumer product and materials testing services and products for professionals and the general public.  The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies. 

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 8563032503

Contact via E-mail