When Cobb County firefighters made their way to Mabelton’s Fontaine Road on Friday, the scene was murky. An opaque pond of ceaseless rain and runoff had taken over the street, and a vehicle — brake lights still beaming — could be seen half-submerged near its center. The driver, still inside, needed rescuing.
A first responder carried her to safety over their back, bringing the crew’s latest emergency call to a close. Since Hurricane Helene began flooding Georgia , this has become a typical scene for the Atlanta area and the state beyond. The 140 mph, Category 4 winds have died down and the downgraded tropical storm has moved on, but the surging water remains. And it’s introduced a new, serious health risk to Georgia: mold .
Helene leaves death, destruction in Georgia; flooding, power outages persist
As seen during the 2005 devastation of Hurricane Katrina, mold is a common problem after severe weather, particularly when flooding is involved.
The microscopic fungi was implicated in the deaths of four Southern University at New Orleans professors because of that storm’s floods. Two months after the catastrophe destroyed much of New Orleans, the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discovered mold in the walls of half the 112 water-damaged homes investigated. Following cleanup efforts, thousands more were discovered to be affected. It’s a long lasting problem for storm victims that comes with severe health risks, and that’s what has an Atlanta expert concerned about the Peach State in the wake Helene.
Deadly outcomes
Emory Healthcare pulmonologist and Emory University School of Medicine professor Dr. Colin Swenson shared advice with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on how people can prevent mold. According to the expert in infectious lung diseases and asthma, it’s a vital measure…