The Better Business Bureau has issued a warning about two apartment complexes in the Mid-South.
Officials with the BBB told FOX13 the apartment complexes have earned F ratings due to unanswered and unresolved complaints from tenants.
Eden at Watersedge Apartment and Townhomes in Memphis has accrued 32 complaints in the last three years and Legacy at Westwind Apartments in Horn Lake has accrued 14 complaints in the last three years.
Renters at the Legacy at Westwind Apartments said the apartments they were given were not in move-in condition when their leases began.
When they reached out to management regarding repairs, they were not completed in a timely fashion. In some cases, they were not completed at all.
A Horn Lake renter told officials his air conditioning was not working when he moved in back in May 2019. He immediately submitted a repair order – but three months later it was not fixed.
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«They bought a window unit, but it only kept my living room cool,» he said. «I have 4 other rooms that I can’t go in because you might pass out due to heat exhaustion.»
Officials are also investigating 32 complaints at the Eden at Watersedge Apartments and Townhomes in Memphis. In the last three years, 8 of those happened in the last 12 months.
Some renters at the Memphis apartment complex said they have no air conditioning or heat, no water, and mold damage. Multiple repairs have not been completed despite requests from tenants.
A renter said her apartment has a leaky air conditioner, stopped-up garbage disposal, and broken dishwasher. «They tell me someone is coming but no one has come to fix it,» she told BBB. «My house smells like old mildew when you first walk in because of all the water that has stained my carpet.»
Another tenant at the complex said her apartment has flooded five times in the last month – causing fungus to grow in her home. «You can see the stem of a mushroom actually growing out of my wall,» she said.
The BBB has sent each company a letter expressing its concerns about the number and nature of the complaints.
If you are experiencing issues with your apartment complex, please contact the BBB. You can file a complaint at bbb.org.
Crumbling school buildings pose health threats to students, including lead exposure, mold and water damage, and pests, according to an article published by New America, a centrist think tank. These issues not only affect the health of students, but also contribute to negative academic outcomes and increasing absenteeism, research indicates.
Some of these issues are being considered at the federal level: A 2014 study by the National Center for Educational Statistics indicated that 24% of schools across the nation were in fair or poor condition, while national studies released this summer revealed lead-based paint was present in half of K-12 schools tested and lead-contaminated drinking water was present in more than one-third of schools buildings tested. The Rebuild America’s Schools Act now under consideration would provide $100 billion in school infrastructure money, while other pending legislation may provide funding for early-childhood education facilities.
School and local leaders are ultimately responsible for providing safe schools that are conducive to learning and can look for grants and other funding sources to improve conditions, the report said. Teachers and staff members can make sure facilities are clean, free from clutter and properly ventilated — though in extreme cases, teachers have gone on strike to draw attention to health hazards at their schools.
Dive Insight:
The average American school is 44 years old and hasn’t been renovated in at least 12 years, according to a 2016 joint report from the 21st Century School Fund, the National Council on School Facilities, and the Center for Green Schools.
In Massachusetts, the state’s current funding formula has led to a lawsuit accusing the state of violating “the students’ constitutional right to an education and the constitution’s equal rights clause by providing unequal educations to poor and rich students, and to white students compared to students of color.”
Many educators and lawmakers are looking at the Rebuild America’s Schools Act to potentially infuse $100 billion over the next 10 years into the nation’s school facilities. If passed, the bill would authorize $70 billion in grants and facilitate $30 billion in school infrastructure tax credit bonds that could be used for the construction and repair of public school facilities and to expand access to high-speed broadband.
Owning a self-storage business comes with risk. Tenants expect their belongings to be safe while in storage. If they check their items and see some have been damaged in one way or another, you can expect a complaint at the very least, or a lawsuit at the worst.
So many unfortunate things can happen to a storage unit, from a break-in to a vermin invasion to fire or flood. Then there’s mold, a nightmare infestation that won’t just damage belongings but presents a potential health risk. Of course, it’s best to prevent mold from ever growing at your storage facility; but if it does, here’s some guidance on what to do.
Identifying the Problem
Mold forms and thrives wherever there’s excess moisture. There are different types of mold, and their appearance may range from fuzzy to slimy. They also come in different colors, including black, green, white, orange and purple.
If there’s water buildup in your storage building because of a leaky roof, bad plumbing, overflowing gutters or humid air, mold will likely develop slowly over time and eventually wreak havoc on items made of paper, wood, fabric and upholstery. Worse, mold spores can trigger allergic reactions and respiratory problems among other complications in employees and tenants. If you find mold formations in any of your structures, you must deal with the problem as soon as possible.
Always check your buildings after a storm. The roof could have a leak, allowing rainwater to seep inside, which could create mold. Regularly check the walls for patches or spots. If you catch a musty odor in your building, it could be an indication of mold.
DIY (Do It Yourself) Clean-Up
If you or a tenant discovers mold inside a building, it’s important to act swiftly. If you plan to remove it yourself, take the following steps.
Identify the source of the moisture. Before you start removing the mold, you must track down the source of the wetness causing it. It could be a leaky roof, busted plumbing or too much humidity in the air. You need to determine where all that excess moisture came from so you can address it and prevent further mold damage.
Remove the mold. Wear protective gear such as rubber gloves, goggles and work clothes that can be dumped into the trash when the job’s done. As for materials, you’re going to need rags, a pail, a scrub brush, non-ammonia soap or detergent, bleach, and an electric fan. Here’s what to do once you’ve gathered it all:
Dampen the affected area with a wet rag to prevent spores from being dispersed into the air.
Using the brush and soap/detergent, remove as much mold as you can.
Once the most visible spots are gone, wet the affected area with a mixture of one and a half cups of bleach in a gallon of water.
Let the bleach sit for about 15 minutes, then scrub the spot again before rinsing it with clean water. Repeat the bleaching process until there are no more visible traces of mold.
Turn on the fan to dry the area.
The Pro Solution
DIY mold-removal jobs are only advisable if the affected area is 10 square feet or less. If the infestation occupies a bigger region, call a specialist.
Calling in a pro offers many benefits. First, an expert typically provides inspection services before and after the removal process free of charge. He should make a highly accurate assessment of the extent and nature of the infestation, which will inform what actions he takes to remove the mold and prevent it from returning. A mold-remediation specialist should have the skills, experience and equipment necessary to remove the mold altogether. Once it’s is gone, he’ll repair or replace any damaged parts of your building.
While some self-storage operators will be able tackle minor mold problems on their own, a professional should be called if the infestation is bigger than you can handle. With the specialist’s help, you won’t have to worry about mold at your facility for the foreseeable future.
Judy Olsen is the content-marketing strategist for Phoenix-based ASAP Restoration LLC, which specializes in restoration to damage caused by water, mold, sewage, fire and smoke, storms, flooding, and more. The company also does asbestos removal and testing, leak locating, plumbing, and reconstruction. For more information, call 605.515.7918.
An aerial view of Norfolk Naval Station, the largest naval base in the world. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Christopher B. Stoltz/Released)
WASHINGTON — Virginia lawmakers are pushing legislation to protect military families from threats in their own homes, like toxic mold, pests and disrepair.
Democrats who represent the state in the U.S. Congress want to put new requirements on the companies that manage privatized military housing. The scramble for new safeguards comes after reports of widespread problems in privatized military housing, much of it in aging homes.
The issue gained national attention after an investigative series by Reuters documented squalid conditions in some military housing, including toxic mold and lead poisoning that caused long-term health problems for some families. The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee held two lengthy hearings on the issue this year.
Two Virginia families have sued the U.S. Navy over mold problems in the last three years. And Navy bases in the Hampton Roads area ranked “poor” in a housing survey report the Navy updated this week.
In response, military leaders have started to work on a tenant’s bill of rights. Housing management companies have held town halls. And the Navy is working on “action plans” for each installation, tied to specific concerns residents raised in the recent survey.
But some lawmakers think more needs to be done. The U.S. House and Senate each included new requirements for the military and its housing contractors as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, the massive annual bill that sets budget and policy for the Pentagon. Lawmakers are expected to hammer out a conference agreement on the bill in September.
“I’m hopeful that this year’s final defense bill will include reforms to address the horrific conditions that have been uncovered in privatized housing for military families,” Sen. Tim Kain, D-Va., said in an email this week to the Virginia Mercury.
“I’ve spoken with families who feared for the health and safety of their kids because of exposure to mold, lead and rodent infestations in their own homes. That’s intolerable, and the defense bill is an opportunity to address it. We need to ensure legal protections for military families and hold private landlords accountable once and for all.”
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Reps. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, and Elaine Luria, D-2nd, also pushed for new protections in the defense bill. The lawmakers sent a letter earlier this month to the leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, urging them to keep the privatized housing requirements in the bill as the two chambers negotiate a final agreement. California Democratic Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris also signed on to the letter.
Warner says that Congress needs to give residents more power and hold the private housing companies accountable for providing safe and healthy housing.
“I was proud to see the Senate and the House vote for these and other protections in their versions of our nation’s defense authorization bill,” Warner said in a statement this week. “But now, in the final stretch, it’s more important than ever that these crucial measures be safeguarded during final NDAA negotiations.”
House and Senate staffers said this week that negotiations on the defense bill are still in the preliminary stages. Members of Congress are in their home districts for August recess but some committee staff are working on proposals. The House and Senate conference committee is expected to meet next month.
Last year, the defense bill cleared with bipartisan support well before the deadline of Oct. 1, the new fiscal year. This year’s conference is expected to be more fraught, largely because of other contentious issues, like the House proposal to block the Trump administration from deploying new low-yield nuclear weapons. House Democrats passed their version of the defense act without any Republican votes. None of Virginia’s Republican congressmen responded to requests for comment from the Mercury for this story.
Mold, pests and lead
The military made a massive shift in its housing management in 1996, turning over ownership and management of many of its family housing units to property managers and private real estate companies. At the time, the military thought the professional real estate managers would do a better, more efficient job of taking care of the military’s housing needs.
But investigations have found problems with upkeep and management of the aging housing inventory. Both the military and nonprofit advocacy groups have conducted national surveys on housing satisfaction over the past year. The surveys used different methodologies, but both found many residents are dissatisfied.
Residents at 42 different Navy installations ranked 12 as “below average” and five as “poor” — including those in the Hampton Roads area- in a recent Navy survey.
Only 16 percent of respondents gave a positive review to their housing in a national survey on military housing from the Military Family Advisory Network. The advocacy group had responses from nearly 17,000 residents at 160 locations across the United States, including 11 bases in Virginia.
Fort Belvoir in Fairfax County is among the bases where military members have complained about substandard housing managed by private companies. (Creative Commons via Wikipedia)
One resident from Fort Belvoir, whose name was kept anonymous, said the pipes burst three times in their home.
“Each time water stood on our floor and soaked into our living room where we had tile carpets that sat on concrete,” the respondent wrote. “We have small children and there was mold that grew into the threshold because housing maintenance didn’t clean the water up adequately.”
Within Virginia, more than half of respondents said their housing was in need of maintenance, repair and remediation. About a third of respondents at most of the Virginia locations identified unaddressed problems with mold.
Another resident in Fort Belvoir said the house was not sealed properly and when an old hospital was demolished, “all the mice that lived there moved in with me.” And a resident at Naval Station Norfolk reported moving into a house that was left filthy from previous tenants, with hair, urine, vomit and debris on the floor.
Lincoln Military Housing manages 4,400 units for the Navy along the Virginia coast, including many clustered in areas around Naval Station Norfolk, Naval Station Oceana and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek. In recent months, the corporation has held town-halls with residents to hear their concerns. Jarl Bliss, Lincoln president and chief executive officer, told senators at the hearing this spring that he wants to regain the trust of military families.
Congressional response
In the wake of these discoveries, some lawmakers proposed a bill, “Ensuring Safe Housing for our Military Act.” Kaine, Warner, Spanberger and Luria were among the co-sponsors. There were three Republican co-sponsors, though none from Virginia. Parts of their proposal are included in the massive defense bill.
“It’s unacceptable that our servicemembers and military families are dealing with hazardous conditions in their own homes,” Luria, a Navy veteran, said in an email.
The bill would take major steps to cut off financial support to housing contractors until they meet certain standards. It would withhold housing payments to contractors until the companies resolve disputes over housing conditions with residents, and it would block fees to contractors if they fail to remedy health or environmental hazards.
“By stopping contractors from imposing unfair damage fees and ensuring they address unacceptable living conditions, we are securing the housing conditions our servicemembers and military families have rightfully earned,” Spanberger said in an email this week. “I’m urging the NDAA conferees to recognize the critical importance of this language, and I’ll keep fighting to make sure it’s included in the final bill and can be signed into law by the president.”
The defense act language would also require the military to create common credentials for health and safety inspections.The proposal would make housing companies pay for relocation costs if residents have to move due to an environmental or health hazard in their home.
One of Kaine’s proposals that made it into the bill would require the Defense Department to establish a “move-out checklist,” so the tenant and housing office verify that outstanding maintenance needs are fixed and the home is in good condition.
Kaine also pushed for language to address police enforcement at off-base military housing, which is sometimes left in a no-patrol zone where neither local police nor military police seem to have jurisdiction. The bill has a provision requiring the military to make sure their own police can patrol privatized housing that is not on a military installation.
Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-10th, was not one of the cosponsors of the original bill, but said she supports many of its provisions, including creation of a tenants’ bill of rights for servicemembers.
“Our servicemembers and military families deserve safe, high-quality housing, but that hasn’t been the case for too many servicemembers in Virginia—it’s unacceptable that basic needs are not being met,” said Wexton.
The Navy Installations Command said it would not comment on pending legislation.
Our report, In-Mold Electronics 2019-2029: Technology, Market Forecasts, Players, suggests that in-mold electronics (IME) can become a market larger than $750m by 2028. The market take-off will however occur only around 2023 or 2024, if not later. This is despite the fact that the technology has been in the making for many years. Indeed, first near-success in the automotive sector came as early as 2013/2014.
This article discusses some of the challenges on the way towards production of a successful IME product. It will also outline some of the key progress made which paves the way towards future adoption. To learn more please visit www.IDTechEx.com/IME. It provides a detailed assessment of the materials, processes, products and prototypes, applications and markets for IME and multiple rival technologies such as molded interconnect devices (MID) or aerosol deposition. Furthermore, this report provides application-segmented ten-year market forecasts and overviews of the key companies across this emerging value chain.
Successful development of an IME product requires a steep learning curve. This is despite the fact that the individual processes used in IME are fairly standard. Indeed, a somewhat similar process, IMD or in-mold decoration, is already commercial. We seek to highlight challenges by contrasting IME with IMD in parts of this article.
The chart below shows the process steps involved in an IME production. In this article, we consider the differences between a conventional IMD and an IME process to highlight development challenges.
Printing on flat sheets: the material set is different between IME and IMD. In a conventional IMD, graphic inks are printed and the color quality is carefully controlled. In IME, functional inks, or stacks of functional materials, will need to be printed. This will require learning as the printing and drying conditions are different. The procedures might also be different depending on the specific set of materials used in the stack and the order in which the materials are arranged in the stack. The curing conditions, especially drying times and rates, are also different and require process as well as equipment adjustment. The printing will also require careful control of thickness so that the designed electrical properties are retained after the forming step. This step of deposition and curing functional materials on a flat sheet can reduce yield, e.g., 2% loss or so.
Pick-and-place: in IME, electronic devices will need to be placed. This will require a pick-and-place machine. It will also likely require the use of special dispensed conductive adhesives for surface mounting. In most cases, the SMDs are placed whilst the film is flat. This makes the pick-and-place easier. It will however require the development of design guidelines for part placement so that the subsequent 3D forming steps do not cause damage. Some have proposed doing the pick-and-place on an already-3D-shaped film. This will require special dispensing and pick-and-place machines able to manoeuvre in 3D spaces and will slow down the throughput. As such, this approach is not very attractive. The dispensed adhesives will also need to be cured without affecting the properties of previous layers.
Today there is some work to develop ultra-low-temperature solders compatible even with heat-stabilized PET substrates. The benefit of solder over conductive adhesives would be that (a) it would simplify part placement control due to their intrinsic orientational correction characteristics, and (b) it would provide a roadmap for supporting more complex ICs with higher I/O counts. For now, however, conductive adhesives dominate. Finally, note that the IC package is important. Since the conductive lines are screen printed the linewidths will be wide. As such, only packages with wide pin pads and pin spacings will be compatible with the process. This already points towards a further future evolution towards narrow metallization techniques. That would, however, require the development of appropriate ink sets compatible with IME processes and narrow linewidth printing techniques.
3D Forming: the next step is 3D forming, e.g., thermoforming. The equipment set is similar to that used in IMD. However, process optimization will be required. This is because the thermoforming must respect the formability limitations of the functional materials and stacks thereof. Design knowhow will play a key role here because by design the circuit patterns and the placed parts can be in locations which experience the least change in dimension. Note that enabling this step in IME has required extensive material innovation. This is because the printed functional inks will need to be stretched. The conductors will be required to give a predictable behaviour and the insulators/cross-overs will need to remain pin-free and insulating on the substrate of interest (PC or PET or even on graphite inks). This has required the development of special inks with the right resins, the right particle distribution/morphology, and so on. The limitations of the materials dictate many design and process restrictions. As such, intimate knowledge of their workings, characteristics, and performance limits is essential. Finally, note that the thermoforming step will have an elevated temperature (150-170C). The impact of this will need to be considered in performance of previously cured or partially cured materials.
Trimming/cutting: the next step is to trim the film. Here, some die-cut process using part-specific tooling is carried out. One then proceeds to the connector assembly step. The connectors provide the connection to the outside world. The connectors are mounted, probably using an anisotropic conductive adhesive or film. This will require additional tools for applying the appropriate heat and pressure profile.
Injection molding: the film will be vacuum or mechanically held in place to allow injection-molding to take place. Depending on the application, the injection volume can be very large. The process also requires optimization, e.g., no air bubbles. This step takes place at a high temperature. As such, the printed circuitry and the formed material stacks will need to retain functionality after experiencing high temperatures and after coming into contact with the molding resin chemicals. Note that the temperature will depend on the resin. For example, PC, PMMA, and TPU will require 260-340c, 240-280C, and 190-210C, respectively.
The molding process can also impact the commercial electronic packages used on the formed film. The high pressure (100MPa or so) can compress any gas trapped inside the package, thus deforming the package. The shear forces in the molding process can cause the component to detach. This risk is most acute when the polymer flow front arrives at the component site during the injection molding process. The change in temperature can also create stress via CTE mismatches, potentially deforming or detaching the SMEs. The selection, or development of, suitable packages can help here. Note that some firms are already responding to this market need.
Note that the products must remain functional in the field after deployment. This is particularly important given the industry’s past experiences and given the irrepairability of the structurally-embedded electronics. The reliability is closely linked to how the materials change their property as they experience heat, humidity, etc. It is also closely linked to the design and the material stack, and how that impacts and is impacted by moisture ingress.
In this article we mainly discussed the technical challenges, showing that, for example, an IMD maker can not overnight become an IME maker, and that it requires learning and significant adaptations. The process can be accelerated with the aid of strong technology and knowhow transfer. It should be noted that there are also many market challenges. We however postpone the discussion of these to another article.
Our report, In-Mold Electronics 2019-2029: Technology, Market Forecasts, Players, suggests that many prototypes and products are emerging in consumer goods, home appliances, and even interior and exterior of vehicles. The market will substantially grow in the coming years, exceeding $750m by 2028. The ability to design, produce, or integrate IME-made parts will become a strategic knowhow and competency for many firms worldwide. Many have already started actively building up competency. Others will need to follow suit if they don’t want to fall behind.
To learn more about the technical as well as commercial aspects of this emerging opportunity refer to the IDTechEx Research report In-Mold Electronics 2019-2029: Technology, Market Forecasts, Players or contact us at research@IDTechEx.com. This report provides segmented market forecasts, assessment of key technical challenges and the latest application developments, and overviews of the key players in the value chain. It covers IME but also competing technologies such as aerosol or molded-interconnect-devices (MIDs).
Downy mildew was confirmed on cucumber from Pulaski Co on August 19, 2019. Cucurbit growers located between Interstates 75 and 65 should strongly consider making a fungicide application before the next rainfall to reduce the potential damage from downy mildew. Now that downy mildew has arrived, the disease should be managed in crops until 2 weeks prior to final harvest.
As the most economically important disease of cucurbits in Kentucky, it is not a matter of if growers and homeowners will experience downy mildew, it is a matter of when. All cucurbits, such as cucumber, cantaloupe, summer and winter squashes, pumpkin, and watermelon are susceptible to downy mildew. This foliar disease occurs severely in field plantings, but can also affect greenhouse plants.
Since the cucurbit downy mildew pathogen does not overwinter in Kentucky, each summer it must be blown in from overwintering locations. Prevention, early identification, and management will help reduce yield losses.
Here are the symptoms to look for, preventative tactics, and brief suggestions on how to treat crops once disease is confirmed.
Cause and Disease Development
Cucurbit downy mildew is caused by the water mold (fungus-like organism/Oomycete) pathogen, Pseudoperonospora cubensis. This pathogen requires living plant tissue to complete its life cycle and is not known to survive Kentucky winters. The pathogen is maintained in warmer overwintering locations and spores pathogen propagules are blown into Kentucky on wind currents each year. The time of arrival can vary greatly from year to year.
The movement of the pathogen is monitored on the Cucurbit Downy Mildew Forecasting page of the IPM pipe website. This tool provides valuable information to growers regarding the spread and risk of cucurbit downy mildew. Cucurbit growers can sign up for free e-mail or text alerts to keep them updated on the proximity of downy mildew to their individual farm. After receiving an alert, growers can investigate their farm’s forecasted risk for the pathogen’s arrival. Fungicides can be applied based on these alerts.
Downy mildew is favored by rainy, humid conditions coming from directions with confirmed reports of the disease. Cucurbit downy mildew can spread extremely rapidly, resulting in defoliation and complete plant death in a matter of days during rainy conditions.
Symptoms
Cucurbit downy mildew is strictly a foliar disease. The first symptoms are pale or bright yellow spots on the upper surfaces of leaves (Figure 1). These symptoms may first be observed near the crown of the plant where leaves stay wet for extended durations. Over time, spots become irregular or «blocky» in appearance and develop into necrotic lesions (Figure 2). On the undersides of leaves, lesions may appear slightly water-soaked. When humidity is high, gray to purple spore production may be observed (Figure 3). The pathogen does not infect cucurbit fruit.
Management
Cultural practices
Utilize disease tolerant cultivars (primarily cucumber).Monitor disease spread and risk through the Cucurbit Downy Mildew Forecasting page of the IPM pipe website.Avoid overhead watering to reduce leaf wetness.Plant in sunny areas with good airflow.Use recommended plant spacing to facilitate air movement and leaf drying.Remove and destroy heavily infected plants (gardens only).Chemical approaches
Protectant fungicides, such as chlorothalonil, mancozeb, and copper, should be applied when crops are at low risk based on the forecasting website. At higher risk levels, systemic fungicides are recommended. A number of systemic fungicide options are listed in ID-36; among these the Orondis products, Elumin, and Ranman are highly recommended. Other systemic fungicides such as Gavel, Tanos, and Zampro are also effective. Other fungicides are labeled for use against cucurbit downy mildew, but their efficacy has varied depending on the production year. For management of resistance to fungicides, it is recommended to always tank-mix a systemic downy mildew fungicide with a compatible protectant fungicide.
Growers can identify their individual risk levels by using the Cucurbit Downy Mildew Forecasting page and/or contacting the Pulaski County Extension Service for further assistance.
As always, all label recommendations must be followed when applying chemicals to crops. In particular, pay close attention to pre-harvest intervals.
For more information, call the Pulaski County Extension office at 679-6361 and request UK Plant Pathology publication PPFS-VG-19 Sustainable Disease Management of Cucurbit Crops in the Home Garden. Become a fan of Pulaski County Horticulture on Facebook, follow me @hortagentbeth on Twitter and kyplants on Instagram.
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OBERLIN — Residents and officials from Oberlin are urging the federal government to speed up its response to flooding after Tropical Storm Barry left many homes damaged.
Flood victims pleaded for relief Friday during a town hall meeting hosted by U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La 4th District).
Dorothy Hebert had 12-14 inches of water in her home and is now living in a camper in her front yard.
“I have 100 percent damage,” Hebert said. “My whole house is gone. I have mold in my house, but there is no money coming from FEMA.”
Hebert said United Way and Catholic Charities have been helping her and other flood victims try to dry out and repair their homes.
Oberlin Alderman Bobby Thomas said about 134 people, many who have been displaced and are now living with family and friends, have registered their homes as having flood damage. The majority of those residences are on Fifth Avenue, he said.
“They’re getting help, but its just a slow process because of all the red tape,” Thomas said. “United Way and Catholic Charities are assisting them. They come in every Tuesday and Thursday to do assessments and try to get people back in their homes. It just takes time.”
Four teams from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (GOHSEP) recently conducted an assessment of the storm damage and are compiling their data to present to Gov. John Bel Edwards who will pass the information on to FEMA, Thomas said.
Johnson said claims are often a combination of federal and state officials working with individual homeowners to verify claims and get through the red tape.
“The problem is there are so many layers of approval and agencies that need to see the paperwork,” Johnson said.
Each individual claim is handled differently with different stages of processing, he said. He urged flood victims to bring their claims to his offices in Leesville, Natchitoches or Bossier City, to be assigned to case workers.
“We need to find out where the claims are,” he said. “It’s all a process, but people shouldn’t have to wait months and months to get what they need.”
Safeguards that have been put in place to verify claims and prevent fraudulent claims following Hurricane Katrina are causing many of the delays, he said.
Katie Pechon of Triton Relief, a non-profit disaster relief group, said residents are not getting the help they need from officials.
“More state officials need to be aware of what is going on in the district and the area,” she said. “If we can find out about people in a small town needing help on social media, they can to.”
She said about 200 volunteers from Triton Relief, Cajun Navy 2016, Cajun Navy Lake Charles and the Louisiana Coalition for Emergency Response have been working with Oberlin residents to repair their homes. Many of the homes need to be gutted, others have smells and mold, she said.
Mold was discovered in some of the rooms at Petaluma Valley Hospital last month, prompting closure of the labor and delivery unit, hospital officials said.
The discovery comes amid complicated negotiations over the longterm future of Petaluma’s only acute care facility.
A new lease agreement for Petaluma Valley Hospital is at least a year away, healthcare officials say, and several steps must take place before the longterm hospital operator is ultimately put before voters.
St. Joseph Health has been operating the hospital on an interim basis since its lease expired almost three years ago. Ramona Faith, CEO of the Petaluma Health Care District, which owns the hospital, said getting a longterm deal in place is essential so that the operator can make necessary improvements to the aging facility that was built in 1980.
“The facility is getting older and needs some repairs like a new roof,” Faith said. “The last few years have been in limbo. Some maintenance would have been done had a lease been in place.”
One sign of wear included mold that was discovered in some of the hospital rooms. On July 18, during an investigation into a water leak, officials identified mold in a nutrition room in the labor and delivery unit and in other confined, non-patient areas of the hospital, including an employee break room, St. Joseph Sonoma County Interim CEO Tyler Hedden said in a statement. Mold was also discovered in an isolated, non-patient area in the medical surgery unit.
“In each instance, out of an abundance of caution we promptly closed and contained the affected areas, which allowed us to fully investigate while upholding the best interests and safety of our patients and caregivers,” Hedden said.
Industrial hygienists investigated and discovered the mold in the labor and delivery nutrition room was caused by an ice machine not draining correctly, Hedden said. The other water damage is under investigation, he said.
The labor and delivery unit reopened on Aug. 2. The unit’s nutrition room and other non-patient areas remain contained as officials work with a third party vendor to implement mitigation measures and await approval from regulatory bodies, Hedden said.
No illnesses related to the mold have been identified or diagnosed, and the hospital has implemented changes to policies and procedures to enhance surveillance of leaks, Hedden said.
“As always, the health of our patients and care providers is our highest priority and this matter has the full attention of the hospital’s leadership,” he said. “Our commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of our patients, families, visitors and caregivers is absolute, relentless and unwavering.”
The mold issue emerged as the state Attorney General considers approval of a new joint operating company, combining the Northern California operations of St. Joesph Health and Adventist Health. The new company is to be called ST Network, according to the application filed with the Attorney General’s office.
Faith, said she expects the Attorney General’s office to have a decision by the end of September.
At that point, the future operator of the hospital could become clearer, Faith said. St. Joseph is currently running the hospital on a lease that expired in 2017. The district has not been able to negotiate a new lease until the new company is approved, Faith said.
“If the Attorney General approves the proposed new co, the district would eagerly negotiate a lease agreement with the new co,” she said. “We’re hoping the Attorney General approves the new co. We’re looking forward to engaging in negotiations with the new co.”
Q: After water got into my car from clogged moon-roof gutters, there is mold in the carpeting and maybe other locations as well. The leak is now fixed.
What’s the best way to clean and deodorize the carpeting? Can it just be shampooed?
A: The best solution is to remove the carpeting, clean it and allow it to air dry in the sun. Sunlight has a dramatic effect on mold/mildew. I would also remove the padding under the carpet and replace it. Trying to shampoo the carpet will just add more moisture and possibly add to the issue. Using an extractor style cleaner, combined with an electronic air purifier (plugged in and allowed to run in the car) may kill the mold.
Q: I am trying to sell my car. It’s a 2011 Honda Civic with only 60,000 miles on it. Overall, the car is in good condition.
Looking online, I have the car priced right. Several people have looked at the car, but no one has made a reasonable offer yet. I am firm on the price. The only thing that anyone can question is a little paint damage on the rear bumper.
Any suggestions for making this sale happen?
A: At nearly nine years old, even with low mileage, the car will not appeal to everyone and buyers may be somewhat limited. Depending on where you are financially with the car, you might want to repair the paint damage to the bumper and then have the car thoroughly detailed. Shiny paint and a clean, fresh-smelling interior can make a substantial difference.
To the best of your ability, list any repairs you did on the car. If you have maintenance records for oil changes, this will help show you maintained the car on a regular basis. Document as much of the condition of the car as you can with pictures when you list the car for sale.
Although you may be firm on the price, keep in mind that there are carrying costs for keeping the car. Each month, the car depreciates further due to age, and you’re paying for insurance as well. These ongoing costs should be considered before you turn down a decent offer.
Q: I have a new-to-me 2012 Buick Regal and it is burning oil. The car only has 91,000 miles on it.
I took it to the used car dealer where I purchased it, and to my local repair shop. No one could really find anything wrong. The car is using about three quarts of oil every 7,000 miles — the mileage when I change the oil.
What do you think I should do? My local garage told me to just add oil, which I have been doing. Is there a better solution?
A: If there isn’t an oil leak, the engine is burning oil. The problem is most likely a valve guide/seal issue.
According to your numbers, the car is using about a quart of oil every 2,300 miles. Although some engines use hardly any oil between oil changes, with today’s multi-viscosity oils and the age of the car, I don’t see a problem worth repairing.
Check the oil every 2,000 miles and add as necessary.
Q: I have a 2012 Mazda Miata that I really like driving, and I may, in fact, drive it a bit too hard. Lately, I get a banging noise going over bumps, especially if I am turning. After a couple of 90-degree days, the noise has just about gone away.
I have had the car checked out and the mechanic tells me everything is tight. Do you have any idea what the problem could be?
A: The problem could be a combination of a bit of spring sag and the rubber bumpers inside the strut assembly.
The rubber bumpers may have hardened to the point that they don’t cushion the suspension over bumps. When the weather is hot, the rubber softens a bit.
At this age, if you plan to keep the car and still plan to drive it aggressively, it makes sense to replace the springs and strut assemblies.
— John Paul is the AAA Northeast Car Doctor. He has more than 30 years of experience in the automobile industry and is an ASE-Certified Master Technician. Write to John Paul, The Car Doctor, at 110 Royal Little Drive, Providence, RI 02904. Or email jpaul@aaanortheast.com and put «Car Doctor» in the subject field. At 8:30 Saturday mornings, tune in to John Paul, The Car Doctor, at wrolradio.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnfpaul or on Facebook.
Mold was discovered in some of the rooms at Petaluma Valley Hospital last month, prompting closure of the labor and delivery unit, hospital officials said.
The discovery comes amid complicated negotiations over the longterm future of Petaluma’s only acute care facility.
A new lease agreement for Petaluma Valley Hospital is at least a year away, healthcare officials say, and several steps must take place before the longterm hospital operator is ultimately put before voters.
St. Joseph Health has been operating the hospital on an interim basis since its lease expired almost three years ago. Ramona Faith, CEO of the Petaluma Health Care District, which owns the hospital, said getting a longterm deal in place is essential so that the operator can make necessary improvements to the aging facility that was built in 1980.
“The facility is getting older and needs some repairs like a new roof,” Faith said. “The last few years have been in limbo. Some maintenance would have been done had a lease been in place.”
One sign of wear included mold that was discovered in some of the hospital rooms. On July 18, during an investigation into a water leak, officials identified mold in a nutrition room in the labor and delivery unit and in other confined, non-patient areas of the hospital, including an employee break room, St. Joseph Sonoma County Interim CEO Tyler Hedden said in a statement. Mold was also discovered in an isolated, non-patient area in the medical surgery unit.
“In each instance, out of an abundance of caution we promptly closed and contained the affected areas, which allowed us to fully investigate while upholding the best interests and safety of our patients and caregivers,” Hedden said.
Industrial hygienists investigated and discovered the mold in the labor and delivery nutrition room was caused by an ice machine not draining correctly, Hedden said. The other water damage is under investigation, he said.
The labor and delivery unit reopened on Aug. 2. The unit’s nutrition room and other non-patient areas remain contained as officials work with a third party vendor to implement mitigation measures and await approval from regulatory bodies, Hedden said.
No illnesses related to the mold have been identified or diagnosed, and the hospital has implemented changes to policies and procedures to enhance surveillance of leaks, Hedden said.
“As always, the health of our patients and care providers is our highest priority and this matter has the full attention of the hospital’s leadership,” he said. “Our commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of our patients, families, visitors and caregivers is absolute, relentless and unwavering.”
The mold issue emerged as the state Attorney General considers approval of a new joint operating company, combining the Northern California operations of St. Joesph Health and Adventist Health. The new company is to be called ST Network, according to the application filed with the Attorney General’s office.
Faith, said she expects the Attorney General’s office to have a decision by the end of September.
At that point, the future operator of the hospital could become clearer, Faith said. St. Joseph is currently running the hospital on a lease that expired in 2017. The district has not been able to negotiate a new lease until the new company is approved, Faith said.
“If the Attorney General approves the proposed new co, the district would eagerly negotiate a lease agreement with the new co,” she said. “We’re hoping the Attorney General approves the new co. We’re looking forward to engaging in negotiations with the new co.”
Damage Mold 