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Current Environmental or Disaster & Emergency Relief Building Inspection, Diagnosis, Repair Topic

Hurricane or Storm Flooding damages homes - Recommended articles

• American Red Cross - how to contact the Red Cross - for emergency relief: food, clothing, shelter. If you are in need of a shelter during a disaster, contact your local Red Cross chapter - enter your zip code on this web page.
• Building Entry for Flood Damage Assessment: How to safely Enter & Inspect a Building After Flooding from Hurricane Ike
• BUILDING SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE - we list major building & indoor environmental safety hazards, and we discuss how to detect and protect from safety & environmental hazards in homes and other buildings
• CRAWL SPACE SAFETY ADVICE - when, where, how and why to enter a crawl space to inspect for damage
• Crawl Space Dryout Procedures - steps needed to dry out a crawl space and how to keep it dry and clean
• DISASTERS: BUILDING INSPECTION & REPAIR SAFEY - advice for hurricane, flood, storm & fire damage assessment, safety, & contact information for American Red Cross or FEMA emergency services
• DRINKING WATER - EMERGENCY SOURCES - where to find emergency drinking water after a flood or other disaster
• Earthquake Chimney Collapse Dangers - chimney inspection procedures and provides examples of potentially fatal chimney collapse hazards in earthquake zones
• Earthquake Damage to Foundations - How to Evaluate and Diagnose Complex Combinations of Foundation Movement Cracks, Bends, Leans, or Shifts in Foundation Walls
• ELECTRICAL SAFETY for Flood Damage Inspectors: How to safely Check an Electrical System after flooding caused by Hurricanes or other Storms or Flooding
• FEMA - how to contact FEMA - the Federal Emergency Management Agency - Telephone: 1 (800) 621-FEMA (3362), TDD: 1 (800) 462-7585, Fax: 1 (800) 827-8112 or Online Disaster Relief Application for FEMA
• FLOODS IN BUILDINGS-priorities - what to do first for safety and to protect a flooded building from further damage
• FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP - how to assess flood damage and clean up flood damage
• Foundation Inspection for Flood Damage - is a flooded structure safe or in danger of collapse
• HAIL DAMAGED SHINGLES - inspection, assessment, diagnosis of hail damage to roofs
• Hurricane Damage Prevention - basic advice from FEMA & other sources
• Hurricane Safety Preparation - basic advice from FEMA & other sources
• Living in the Danger Zone: Realities about Hurricanes - book recommendation
• MOBILE HOMES, DOUBLEWIDES, TRAILERS - inspection, repair, storm damage & wind damage, MOBILE HOME WIND RATINGS
• MOLD ACTION GUIDE - what to do about mold in buildings after a flood, & MOLD PREVENTION AFTER FLOODING
• Mold Cleanup after Flooding: How to Prevent or Remove Mold After Flooding from Hurricane Ike and similar hurricanes, floods, storms
• Mold Damage Control after Flooding: checklist of key steps to minimize mold damage after a building flood from earthquake, flood, or a hurricane or similar storm or disaster.
• SEPTIC SYSTEMS & FLOODS - how to get the septic system working after a flood
• SINK HOLES - how to recognize signs of an impending disaster
• WILDFIRE DAMAGE PREVENTION - advice for homeowners
• WIND DAMAGE to ROOFS - roof shingle wind damage, cause, evaluation, prevention, standards
• Windstorm Damage Prevention Advice for Homeowners

Hurricane Safety Preparation: basic advice from FEMA & other sources

• Listen to the radio or TV for information.
  
• Secure your home, close storm shutters, and secure outdoor objects or bring them indoors.
  
• Turn off utilities if instructed to do so. Otherwise, turn the refrigerator thermostat to its coldest setting and keep its doors closed.
  
• Turn off propane tanks.· Avoid using the phone, except for serious emergencies.
  
• Moor your boat if time permits.
  
• Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purposes such as cleaning and flushing toilets. Fill the bathtub and other large containers with water.

You should evacuate under the following conditions

• If you are directed by local authorities to do so. Be sure to follow their instructions.
  
• If you live in a mobile home or temporary structure—such shelters are particularly hazardous during hurricanes no matter how well fastened to the ground.
  
• If you live in a high-rise building—hurricane winds are stronger at higher elevations.
  
• If you live on the coast, on a floodplain, near a river, or on an inland waterway.
  
• If you feel you are in danger.

If you are unable to evacuate, go to your safe room. If you do not have one, follow these guidelines

• Stay indoors during the hurricane and away from windows and glass doors.
  
• Close all interior doors—secure and brace external doors.
  
• Keep curtains and blinds closed. Do not be fooled if there is a lull; it could be the eye of the storm - winds will pick up again.
  
• Take refuge in a small interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level.
  
• Lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object.

Gulf Oil Spill Sends Crude Oil Fumes Ashore in Louisiana - Recommended articles on crude oil spill health risks

Workers in the Gulf region are at risk from exertional heat stroke, and there can be short-term effects from fresh oil-spill fumes: affecting the eye, neurological system, and skin. Short term lung, kidney, and liver functions may be affected. Media reports and studies of oil spills do not address effects of long term or chronic exposure to crude oil spills, but sources indicate that as oil breaks down in water it becomes less toxic over time. - Reuters

OSHA's position and that of other expert sources such as the ATSDR is that modest typical residential exposure to heating oil fumes is a nuisance that may not pose a hazard to a healthy individual. Reuters reported that "Health and Human Services Department officials told a Congressional haring that little is known about the health impacts on people of oil spills." (Reuters, op cit. 6/23/10) We recommend monitoring results of "Assessing the Human Health Effects of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill: An Institute of Medicine Workshop", June 22-23 2010. - Institute of Medicine.

While the long term environmental effects of crude oil spills such as the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill are not yet clear, more immediate complaints of oil fumes ashore in Louisiana have been reported. Local health officials in that state have warned people with respiratory illness, asthma, or similar conditions to avoid breathing oil fumes and to "stay indoors".

The oil and oil fume toxicity, safety and MSDS data below provides a summary of possible health concerns from short term, chronic, or long term exposure to refined oil spills such as No. 2 home heating oil. We include links to Material Data Safety Sheets for Crude Oil MSDS as well as home heating oil MSDS where we provide more health related details.

Recommended articles:

• ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS - INSPECT, TEST, REMEDY
• FUEL OIL TYPES & CHARACTERISTICS
• HEATING OIL EXPOSURE HAZARDS, LIMITS - Heating Oil Exposure Effects, Exposure Limits, Health Hazards
• Exposure to Crude Oil or Heating Oil Combustion Gas, Soot, Flue Gases
• Exposure to Crude Oil or Heating Oil Fumes
• Exposure to Crude Oil or Heating Oil Liquid
• Exposure to Crude Oil or Heating Oil - contaminated fish - eating oil-contaminated seafood
• Material Safety Data Sheets for Crude Oil and Refined Heating Oil Products
  • Heating Oil Exposure Health Effects - introduction and general health effects
  • MSDS Sheet for HOME HEATING OIL - Material Safety Data Sheets for No. 2 Heating Oil
  • Exposure Limits for Home Heating Oil - Exposure LImits for Oil Exposure
  • MSDS Sheet for CRUDE OIL - exposure hazards, personal protection advice, accidental release guidance
  • MSDS Sheets for Gulf Oil Spill Dispersant Corexit - toxicity and MSDS sheets for Corexit®, Dispersit®, and other oil spill dispersants
• INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE
• ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE - distinguish between Gulf oil spill odors and other building odor sources
• DIRECTORY OF PROFESSIONALS TO INSPECT OR TEST A BUILDING

U.S. Financial crisis increases building owner focus on saving heating & cooling costs - Recommended articles

• ENERGY SAVINGS in BUILDINGS
• AIR LEAK DETECTION TOOLS
• APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS
• HEAT LOSS in BUILDINGS
• HEATING COST SAVINGS METHODS
• INSULATION LOCATION in BUILDINGS - WHERE TO INSULATE
• SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
• THERMAL TRACKING Indicates Heat Loss
• WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS

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