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Flooded Basement
When it comes to dealing with troublesome mold, it's always far better and certainly more affordable to prevent it from growing in the first place than to deal with the clean up after it's already taken over your home's basement. Although mold spores are everywhere, they don't become a problem until they meet with cool and damp areas. From there, the spores grow into mold, which multiplies and becomes not only a frustration for the homeowner, but a health hazard for anyone who's living in the home.
Mold is troublesome in a number of ways. It's difficult to completely remove and any traces left behind can quickly begin to grow again. Some strains have become resistant to traditional removal methods, such as bleach and chlorine. New studies seem to reveal even more troublesome health effects than previously believed. Those with respiratory problems are most at risk and for those who already suffer with asthma; it can become a major health crisis. It can weaken one's immune system and cause symptoms similar to hay fever or even flu. It's possible mold can be flourishing in a home's basement or other area within the home with no knowledge of its existence. This is dangerous since the symptoms are sometimes accredited to a head cold or flu that's simply affecting all family members. Many homeowners never consider the possibility of mold being the culprit.
Fortunately, the solution is often as simple as installing a drainage system, whether it's an internal system that follows the parameters of your basement or an external drain system and then removing all traces of the mold and ensuring the affected areas don't become damp again. It's not unusual for medical symptoms to cease within days after mold removal.
If you suspect you may have a mold problem, even if you can't locate it, you might consider hiring a professional to come in and do a thorough inspection of your property. The right contractor will be able to locate the mold and point out the areas which are most vulnerable. Further, he can also either remove the mold or provide the products for the homeowner to do so. The goal is to rid your house once and for all.
If, however, mold is present and is allowed to continue its spread, not only do you risk your health, but the foundation of your home is at risk of being weakened. Any wood that's in contact with the damp areas can be destroyed by the mold and in the worse cases, a property can be deemed uninhabitable. Recent widespread mold was reported during the cleanup of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The black mold that was rampant in New Orleans, Biloxi, Gulfport and other areas hard-hit resulted in many properties being ordered demolished. Four years later, many cities are still dealing with black mold as each new inspection can reveal mold that was unknown before or was thought to have been eradicated, with remnants left over that began to spread once again.
Clearly, ensuring your home is free of damp areas so that mold won't begin to grow is a far better option than the sometimes-costly removal of mold that went unnoticed until it made family members sick or was noticed by the homeowners. It's simply a matter of proactive versus reactive. | 
