Flooding raises health concerns in NW Mo.

MOUND CITY, Mo. -- Amid mold spores, rotting vegetation and mental strain, health officials warn flood victims of potential health concerns as floodwaters recede.

Hundreds of area flood victims are anxiously waiting until recovery and cleanup efforts can begin. The Midland Empire Chapter of the American Red Cross has organized relief efforts that include health and emotional recovery.

Mary Steece, a Red Cross nurse from Alabama, recently spoke with flood victims at the Mound City recovery center.

"This water has been sitting around for a long time and people don't know what's been in it," she said. "There have been tons of fertilizer from the fields, farm animals, chemicals, just about everything, and I have seen in previous flood disasters that I have worked, the sores that have developed on people from walking in this water have been very, very bad."

Steece warned flood victims about returning to their homes, which may have mold, animals and insects that could create health concerns. She said people with respiratory illnesses or weakened immune systems should seek help when cleanup begins.

"If you are going to clean up yourself, don't turn on fans because that will just spread the mold spores, which can cause dangerous respiratory problems," Steece said, adding that residents should wear a mask to prevent mold exposure. "Definitely wear bug spray, especially this time of year, because mosquitoes can transmit diseases."

Red Cross volunteers have distributed cleanup supplies to flood victims at recovery centers.

Holt County Presiding Commissioner Mark Sitherwood said one noticeable difference may make returning residents quite aware of a problem.

"The smell is horrible, just a lot of rotting vegetation primarily," he said. "The smell is all over the Big Lake area, the Fortescue area south of 159 Highway, all the way to Forest City, the Corning area, Craig, and there is such a current, we won't know what the landscape will look like when the water goes down."

Sitherwood said aside from safety issues, another concern is the dwindling population of Holt County. With flooding problems for the past five years, he said, several city and village councils have discussed a potential buyout.

"Fortescue is considering it. I've heard some talk from Bigelow, maybe Corning," he said, adding that Holt County averages a population of less than 5,000 people. "We can't afford to lose too many more people because it seems like we lose people every year and (this flood) is going to be a tremendous burden on this county.

"I don't know if life will ever be normal again," he said. "A lot of residents have taken a huge financial hit and it is going to be very difficult to recover."

Roy Marlowe, a mental health volunteer with the Red Cross recovery center, said dealing with disasters causes various emotional troubles. He said the circumstances around this "man-made" flood invoked anger and confusion from some victims.

"Other disasters just come because of Mother Nature, but this one is a little different," he said. "Whether people agreed that their land should be flooded or not. people knew this was coming beforehand, and that's an issue people can be very angry about."

Marlowe said people on the road to recovery need to take care of their physical and emotional needs. He said stress, sadness and hopelessness can push people beyond their breaking point.

"People want money, want a new car, or they need help getting back on their feet but. they need someone to listen, be sensitive and compassionate," he said at the Mound City recovery center. "Everything can't be solved by money, and humans are pretty complex, so people need to genuinely feel that there is a compassion, concern and understanding that can be uplifting."

Marlowe advised people who have thoughts of harming themselves or others to call the national suicide hotline at (800) 273-8255.

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Information from: St. Joseph News-Press, http://www.stjoenews-press.com