Water is the key. Without it, molds can't get started, much less spread. But when water is left to sit for even 24 hours, common molds can take hold. If water continues to sit and areas become completely saturated, that's when a more lethal mold, such as Stachybotrys , can move in. And four years ago in Cleveland, Stachybotrys growth from unrepaired storm damage was suspected of causing pulmonary hemorrhage in 14 children, killing two.
Families can go for months, even years, without knowing where their symptoms are coming from.
And what starts as a small mold problem can grow to consume a home. Melinda Ballard and Ron Allison's house can't even be bulldozed until men in moon suits cut out the Stachybotrys -infested timber, flooring and wallboard, wrap it up and cart it off for burial. Melinda Ballard believes her child or husband would have died if providence had not intervened. Their house's copper plumbing sprang a series of leaks starting in 1998. That December, the hardwood floors in the living and dining rooms began to warp.