EMLab P&K Increases Mold Testing and Bacteria Testing Capacity To Help After Mississippi River Flood

May 11, 2011 - PRLog -- Spring snow melt off and weeks of heavy rain have caused flooding in the Mississippi River and Ohio River Valleys that has become the worst flooding in the central United States in 70 years. Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes and neighborhoods in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee among other parts of the Midwest and South. One of the large cities hit hardest by the flooding is Memphis, TN. Baton Rouge, LA and New Orleans, LA are waiting to see if there will be any flooding from the Mississippi as floodwaters surge this week until they reach the Gulf of Mexico. The U.S. Corps of Engineers is opening spillways to divert floodwaters in an effort to protect Baton Rouge, LA and New Orleans, LA. Cleanup is expected to be massive as the surge moves downstream.

The severe flooding has destroyed many homes, but some homes and business buildings may be salvageable through remediation. In addition to losing personal possessions, residents and property owners must deal with potential environmental health concerns such as bacterial contamination, mold growth, sewage contamination and other health concerns caused by excessive flooding and water damage. After remediation is completed, property owners should have a qualified indoor air quality (IAQ) professional perform mold testing and bacteria testing to confirm the remediation was successful. Property owners who need a qualified IAQ professional can contact EMLab P&K for a referral.

“The flooding disaster has been devastating and tragic. As people begin to recover, time is critical. EMLab P&K is committed and ready to help with mold and bacterial analysis to expedite the recovery process,” said Belinda Vega, EMLab P&K’s President. “We have partnered with TestAmerica to offer additional environmental testing services to address emerging health concerns quickly. As always, clients can expect and trust the quality and accuracy of our lab analysis.”

To help people recover after the flooding, EMLab P&K is adding local and overall mold testing and bacteria testing capacity, including weekend and emergency staffing to support the increased need for environmental testing. As the nation’s leading environmental testing laboratory, EMLab P&K maintains a strong presence in Texas (Fort Worth and Houston), Chicago, IL and along the East Coast with AIHA accredited labs at Fairfax, VA, Cherry Hill, NJ, and Fort Lauderdale, FL. Through TestAmerica’s network of laboratories, EMLab P&K also has sample drop-off locations in St. Louis, Missouri, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Tennessee (Knoxville and Nashville), Alabama (Birmingham and Mobile), Ohio (Cincinnati, Dayton, and North Canton), and throughout Texas including: Austin, Beaumont, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.

Environmental consultants and professionals who are assisting property owners and government agencies in areas affected by flooding need proper equipment and sampling supplies. EMLab P&K’s Products Division offers personal protective equipment as well as testing equipment and sampling supplies for mold and bacteria testing.

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About EMLab P&K
EMLab P&K, a TestAmerica company, is one of the leading commercial indoor air quality laboratories in North America with over 60 service and drop-off locations throughout the United States. EMLab P&K specializes in analyzing air and surface samples to identify mold, bacteria, fungi, asbestos, and allergens. EMLab P&K also offers USP 797 testing, PCR testing, radon analysis, and materials testing. EMLab P&K has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations and government agencies including: AIHA, NVLAP, CA-ELAP, NY-ELAP, Texas DSHS, and other accrediting programs. For more information, visit the official website at http://www.emlab.com or call 866-888-6653.