Flood Assistance Resource Fair in Noel Jan. 16

Flood Assistance Resource Fair
Saturday, January 16, 2016
11:00am to 3:00pm
Noel Elementary School
318 Sulphur St. Noel, MO 64854

Come visit with these social service organizations and disaster relief agencies as they offer their services free of charge:

• Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri- Disaster Case Management
• Children’s Haven of SW MO- Respite care, temporary shelter
• Community Clinic of Joplin- FREE flu shots
• Economic Security Corporation- Housing/utility assistance, Head Start
• Legal Aid of Western Missouri- Contract/tenant disputes
• Ozark Center- Emotional support and mental health care
• University of MO Extension- Flood recovery and clean-up strategies
• Red Cross- Disaster Clean Up Kits
• Access Family Health- Personal Hygiene Kits

Sponsored by: The McDonald County COAD, (Community Organizations Active in Disaster), The McDonald County Coalition, The Alliance of Southwest Missouri

USDA to Have Public Meetings about Assistance Available for Flood Damages

Representatives of four United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) agencies will participate in public meetings January 20-21 to explain various types of flood-recovery assistance available to landowners and units of government.

During the meetings, representatives of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), Rural Development (RD), and Risk Management Agency (RMA) will describe the federal programs they administer that could assist those whose property sustained damages from flooding that occurred late last year and into 2016.

Meeting times and locations are:

• Springfield, MO – 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 20, at the Missouri Department of Conservation Nature Center, 4601 S. Nature Center Way. The nature center is located in southeast Springfield just west of Highway 65 off the James River Freeway (Highway 60).
• Rolla, MO – 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, January 20, at the Comfort Suites Conference Center, 1650 Old Wire Outer Road. The hotel is located off Interstate 44 at exit 186. Use the entrance at the rear of the building.
• Union, MO – 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, January 21, at the Knights of Columbus building, 700 Clearview Drive.

Persons with disabilities who require accommodations to attend or participate in these meetings should contact their local USDA Service Center or Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 by Friday, January 15, 2016.

Flood Assistance Resource Fair for McDonald County

To be held 10 a.m. to noon, Tuesday January 12, 2016 at the Pineville Community Center, 602 Jesse James Road, Pineville, Mo.

Come visit with these social service organizations and disaster relief agencies as they offer their services free of charge:

Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri---Disaster Case Management     

Children’s Haven of SW MO—respite care, temporary shelter

Community Clinic of Joplin-- FREE flu shots

Economic Security Corporation—housing/utility assistance, Head Start

Legal Aid of Western Missouri--- contract/tenant disputes

Ozark Center---emotional support and mental health care

University of MO Extension—flood recovery and clean-up strategies

Sponsored by the McDonald County COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) and The Alliance of Southwest Missouri

Homes Cures for Mold and Mildew Problems do Exist

Contact: Bob Schultheis, natural resource engineering specialist
Headquartered in Webster County
Tel: (417) 859-2044
E-mail: schultheisr@missouri.edu

MARSHFIELD, Mo. -- Wet weather, rain on storm damaged homes, and residential flooding can all create mold problems inside a home. But according to Bob Schultheis, a natural resource engineering specialist with University of Missouri Extension, this type of wet weather does not mean it is a good idea to test a home for mold.

“If you can smell mustiness, mold is present. The cure is to eliminate the source of the moisture and improve airflow under the house and in enclosed areas like closets. Generally, a mold test is just an unnecessary expense using money that can be better used to fix the problem,” said Schultheis.

The key is to keep water out and that means checking for plumbing and roof leaks and repairing any leaks that are found.

“Make sure the house has working gutters and downspouts that direct roof runoff away from the foundation.  Every inch of rain you divert off the roof of an average-sized house is about 1000 gallons of water that won’t be trying to get into the house,” said Schultheis.

It is also a good idea to put 6-mil polyethylene plastic down on the dirt floor of the crawlspace and seal the edges and seams.  According to Schultheis, this will prevent as much as 20 gallons of water vapor a day from moving up into the living area of the home.

“Another option is to keep the foundation vents open year-round to allow water vapor to escape.  This also reduces radon gas buildup, if you have it,” said Schultheis.

It is also important to make sure the vents from clothes dryers, bathroom fans and range hoods exhaust to the outdoors, not just into the attic or crawlspace.

The best way to check moisture levels in a home is with a digital temperature and humidity gauge. The indoor relative humidity should ideally be in the 30 percent to 50 percent range.  A list of sources for these gauges is available at http://extension.missouri.edu/webster/documents/resources/disaster/Temperature-HumidityGaugeSourceList.pdf

“Too much humidity will show up as excess moisture on the windows and favors dust mite and mold growth.  Too little humidity can cause static electricity in carpets and scratchy throats and bloody noses for the occupants, said Schultheis.

For more information on solving moisture and mildew problems, contact the nearest University of Missouri Extension Center and ask for MU Guide GH5928 “How to Prevent and Remove Mildew — Home Methods,” see the mold control resources at http://extension.missouri.edu/webster/mold-control.aspx, contact Schultheis at the Webster County Extension Center, 417 859-2044, or visit the MU Extension website at http://extension.missouri.edu
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Flood-related resources from MU Extension

Available for expert comment

Conne Burnham, University of Missouri Extension state emergency management specialist, can answer reporters' questions on disaster readiness, response and recovery at the household, community and state level. Contact Burnham at 573-884-5254 or burnhamc@missouri.edu.

Missouri Flood Info on Facebook
Missouri Flood Info, http://www.facebook.com/MoFloodInfo, is a collaboration of state, federal and local agencies and organizations involved addressing flooding in Missouri, including the Partnership for Disaster Recovery. Managed by MU Extension.

News releases
Relevant information from MU Extension specialists:

Resources for Your Flooded Home

http://extension.missouri.edu/p/MP904

Mold control

http://extension.missouri.edu/webster/mold-control.aspx

MU Extension flood resources

http://extension.missouri.edu/main/DisplayCategory.aspx?C=259

• Be prepared for flooded roads: extension.missouri.edu/n/2567
• After a flood, think food safety: extension.missouri.edu/n/2550
• Before the flood: Prepare household items for long-term storage: extension.missouri.edu/n/1156
• First aid for leaky basements: extension.missouri.edu/n/2572
• Reducing flood damage to home and property: extension.missouri.edu/n/1155
• Let flood-damaged homes dry thoroughly before installing new coverings: extension.missouri.edu/n/1153
• Warm, wet weather can trigger mold: extension.missouri.edu/n/1139
• Scams and fraud add insult to injury after a disaster: http://extension.missouri.edu/n/1229
• Property loss from disasters may be tax deductible: extension.missouri.edu/n/1113
• Use shock chlorination to disinfect contaminated wells: extension.missouri.edu/n/143
• Snakes on a flood plain: extension.missouri.edu/n/1175

Publications
(To access publications, use the links below or go extension.missouri.edu/publications/ and search by publication number.)

• EMW1023, Quick Tips for Cleaning Up After a Flood – Tips on protective equipment; deciding what can be salvaged and what should be thrown away; safely drying, cleaning and disinfecting materials; and what to do before installing new drywall and insulation.
• MP904, Resources for Your Flooded Home – Downloadable 24-page publications offers information about electrical systems, repairing walls, cleaning furniture, flooring and floor coverings, bedding, kitchen items, and controlling mold and mildew. Other information includes financial advice, filing insurance claims, avoiding fraud and hiring a contractor.
• EMW1026, Safe Drinking Water in an Emergency – Downloadable guide sheet on storing and purifying drinking water during an emergency.

Other links

• extension.missouri.edu/emergency
• extension.missouri.edu/flood

Private Water Wells Should Be Cleaned After Disaster

Contact: Bob Schultheis, natural resource engineering specialist
Headquartered in Webster County
Tel: (417) 859-2044
E-mail: schultheisr@missouri.edu

MARSHFIELD, Mo. -- If a private water well has been flooded or otherwise damaged by storms, the well and the entire water system should be cleaned and disinfected. Floods can contaminate wells with silt, raw sewage, oil and disease organisms.

"First, remove silt and debris from the well and examine the casing, motors and pumps, piping, electrical and other system components for damage. Consult a service professional if damage is extensive or if you are unable to make repairs," said Bob Schultheis, natural resource engineering specialist, University of Missouri Extension.

According to Schultheis, the following steps should be taken to disinfect a well:

1. Pump the water until it is clear.

2. Scrub and disinfect the pump room and wash all equipment with at least a two percent chlorine solution. Laundry bleach is usually six percent chlorine, so mix 1 gallon with 2 gallons of water.

3. Remove the well seal or plug at the top of the casing. Pour a solution of one quart of laundry bleach and three gallons of water into the top of the casing. Leave it there at least four hours, preferably overnight.

4. Pump the chlorinated water through the system. While filling all piping, open one faucet at a time until there is a strong chlorine odor at each faucet. Close the faucet and leave the chlorine in the piping at least two hours, preferably overnight.

5. Pump and flush the system until the taste and odor of chlorine are no longer present.

6. Have the water tested for bacteria. Boil or treat all drinking water until the water test indicates the water is safe for all purposes.

Water testing for bacteria is available through county health departments at http://health.mo.gov/living/lpha/lphas.php

Details on treating a bacteria-contaminated well are available at http://extension.missouri.edu/p/WQ102

In emergencies, questionable water can be made drinkable by following the procedures in http://extension.missouri.edu/p/EMW1026

Additional information on this topic is available online at http://extension.missouri.edu or on the national Extension website http://extension.org.

University of Missouri Extension programs focus on the high-priority needs of Missourians. Each county extension center, with oversight by locally elected and appointed citizens, is your local link to practical education on almost anything.
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