Use shock chlorination to disinfect contaminated wells
BLOOMFIELD, Mo. – Heavy rains and rising rivers may flood wells. “Wells could be contaminated with bacteria, viruses or parasites that can make you ill,” said Van Ayers, a former University of Missouri Extension agriculture and rural development specialist. Water from a flooded well should not be used for drinking or food preparation until the well and plumbing system have been disinfected and the water has been tested for safety.
Before the flood: Prepare household items for long-term storage
TRENTON, Mo.- As people brace for floodwaters and the damage they might cause, it's important to know how to properly prepare household items for long-term storage, said a University of Missouri Extension housing and environmental design specialist.
First aid for leaky basements
COLUMBIA, Mo. – If your basement sprung a leak during recent intense rainfalls, you’re not alone.
Property loss from disasters may be tax deductible
Related video: Coping with disaster, youtube.com/watch?v=q6_ugKGvd_MCOLUMBIA, Mo. – Disaster victims may recoup some of their uninsured losses from natural disasters, said former University of Missouri Extension consumer and family economics specialist Brenda Procter. Uncompensated property losses in presidentially declared disaster areas are tax deductible.
Let flood-damaged homes dry thoroughly before installing new coverings
Related video: How to use a moisture meter, youtube.com/watch?v=na4_yVBLIjY PERRYVILLE, Mo. – Before replacing drywall and floor coverings in your flooded home, make sure building materials have had enough time to dry out, cautions a University of Missouri Extension community emergency management specialist.
Tips for safe snow shoveling
MARSHFIELD, Mo. – Before you grab that snow shovel to clear your sidewalk or driveway, stop to go over some safety tips, said a University of Missouri Extension natural resource engineering specialist. “Snow shoveling is not the exercise to use to start getting in shape,” said Bob Schultheis. “Exercise experts say shoveling heavy snow requires as much energy as running nine miles per hour.”
Ice dams on the roof can damage your home
MARSHFIELD, Mo. – Unwanted icicles hanging from the roof overhang are a warning sign of ice dams, which can inflict considerable interior and exterior damage to your home. According to Bob Schultheis, retired University of Missouri Extension natural resource engineering specialist, nonuniform roof temperatures cause ice dams. “In the winter, when warm air inside the house leaks into the unheated attic, it creates warm areas on the…