Not long after the flood water began to recede, John Fogle, 2137 Irwin St., became alarmed by the mold he saw growing on his mobile home.
“It started to show up on the outside of my home,” he said. “It only takes 72 hours for it to show.”
Fogle’s concern only increased after he removed a section of an interior wall and found black mold growing there.
“The black mold is my main concern. It’s definitely not good on the lungs,” said Fogle, whose wife of 15 years, Marsha, has emphysema.
Compounding Marsha Fogle’s breathing problems is the fact the family’s air conditioning unit went under water during Tuesday’s flash flood and is no longer working.
“I’m moving along the best I can. When I get hot and can’t breath I take five,” she said.
Despite her breathing problems, Marsha Fogle has been trying to help with the cleanup.
“I do not want to paint and clean the inside until we clean the outside, otherwise we’ll just track it in,” she said.
Fogle looked into staying at the American Red Cross’ evacuation center, but admitted he “did not feel comfortable there.” So for now, Fogle and his wife will stay at home and hope that assistance will be on the way.
“We need FEMA’s help and government aid,” he said. “There were five or six homes in my neighborhood alone that were lost.”
If federal help comes, Fogle hopes it’s not wrapped in red tape.
“We can’t wait a couple of years,” he said. “It would be too late by then.”
Fogle encourages other flood victims to step forward.
“The more people that come forward, the more chance we have of getting a grant approved,” he said.
Fogle offered nothing but praise for city personnel.
“The city hauled off at least a truck load of crap that washed up on my property,” he said. “I also thank the police for preventing looting and for the fire department’s work.”
Hannibal, MO —
