Tips For Homeowners Following a flood, conditions in your home may be ripe for an outbreak of mold, one of the most serious sources of damage to your family possessions. Mold, a common term for fungus, attacks organic materials such as paper, books, cloth, photographs, and leather.
Mold grows from spores, which are everywhere in our environment.
Usually these spores are inactive, but they will germinate when the relative humidity exceeds 70 percent. Temperatures above 65 degrees increase the likelihood of mold growth. Active mold growth is slimy or fuzzy and is usually green, black, orange or purple. Inactive mold is dry and powdery and may be white. It can also make permanent stains.