Our Accomplishments to Date

Yesterday, at the home of Helen Green, we: removed all paneling and sub-paneling from a “basement” at the back of the house, removed chairs, a sofa, an air conditioner, most of the kitchen floor and most of the cabinets, kitchen sink, combination range and microwave, much mold-blackened insulation.

Today we removed: a second air conditioner, a toilet, a sink, and shower stall, the rest of the kitchen cabinets, a second sofa, the kitchen walls which were composed of dry wall over 4 layers of linoleum over more dry wall if I understand it right, a large part of he living room walls including plaster and lath up to 4 feet off the floor, baseboards the rest of the ceiling material in the basement, more mold. Also discovered: one tiny mouse and one tiny gecko.

While we were on the job today, a small crew from the EPA came and picked up cleaners and other toxic items we’d left at the curb. Our own detritus composes a pile about 15 feet long and 5 ½ to 6’ high, left curbside, where Helen has been informed it will all be picked up in 2-3 weeks. Such is the pace.

Tomorrow we: remove the rest of the plaster and lath in affected rooms, drain and remove the water heater (the soaking ruins the insulation which is sealed in and can’t dry), a set of stairs leading from the main floor to the basement, carpeting on the stairs leading from the main floor to the second floor, remove all protruding nails from walls and ceiling, sweep up and take out all trash. There is a possibility we will be done with this house by noon..

Her basement was entirely flooded, while the main floor had water about 2 feet deep. She had done a lot of work prior to our coming, moving as much salvageable material as possible to the second floor. The refrigerator was already gone and the house had been aired out. The previous team made the mistake in a moment of carelessness of opening a refrigerator, forgetting that all the food in it had been brewing in the vilest manner for 10 months. It seems to be a good way to create nausea.

Our host is the kindest person. She spends every day on the site with us. She has asthma and some heart problems so she hasn’t done any physical labor. But it has made the whole experience to have her there in person. Her 83-old mother has spent most of the time with us as well. The mother ran a preschool for 44 years, and daughter a retired teacher and principal, is working on grants to restart the program under her own leadership.

Everybody has pitched in wholeheartedly. There’s been absolutely no complaining about heat or any working conditions, which of course are hot, dusty, and sometimes worse.

Dave