NewswireTODAY - /newswire/ - San Juan Capistrano, CA, United States, 2006/08/17 - A church and school in Louisiana that were ravaged by flooding last year during Hurricane Katrina and infested with mold will reopen in late August, fully restored and mold-free [Nasdaq: AMGI - News].

AMGI helps restore church once submerged under 7 feet of water.

American Mold Guard, recently completed mold treatment work at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in the Lakeview district of New Orleans, along with the church's adjoining parochial school. Five of the seven buildings at 6249 Canal Blvd. have been completely treated and two are ready to reopen.

The initial impact of Hurricane Katrina had a minimal effect on the church, which withstood the storm with minor roof damage. However, after the 17th Street levee broke, the church and school buildings were flooded with 7 feet of water for two weeks.
"It's been a nightmare to say the least," said Roland Wiltz, parish administrator for St. Paul's Episcopal Church and facility manager for the church and school. "We managed to get the water drained and the church cleaned and sanitized, but it didn't look or smell pretty. (We thought we might have to do a lot more to remediate the mold problem at a much higher cost."

The church then hired an independent industrial hygienist to review the facility and provide an unbiased assessment. The hygienist found the church's interior wood boards saturated with what appeared to be residual mold.

Upon receiving an inquiry from St. Paul's, American Mold Guard agreed to perform mold-removal services at the church and school.
"We didn't just need the buildings to be clean," Wiltz said. "For the school to safely reopen for students, we needed them to be pristine." American Mold Guard soda-blasted the building surfaces and treated them with their antimicrobial product to prevent future mold growth.

"They did an extremely good job," Wiltz said. "Thanks to the services of American Mold Guard, the hygienist has determined the air quality in our buildings to no longer be hazardous to the health of our parishioners and our students and faculty. The buildings smell good and look new - and we gained long-term protection against damage from moisture."
The school, which had been borrowing space from a local Baptist church, will reopen on Aug. 24, with 115 students enrolled for the fall semester. The church, which also had temporarily been worshiping in the chapel of a local Episcopal school will hold its first service Aug. 27, with its Men's Club holding a barbecue party the night before.
"After Hurricane Katrina, many people, businesses and religious organizations fled New Orleans," said Mike Wimberly, Vice President/Gulf Region of American Mold Guard. "Despite a tremendous drop in school and church attendance, the people of St. Paul's were determined to stay. The parish now has both its church and school back and American Mold Guard is proud to have played a role in the restoration of the parish's church and school."

About American Mold Guard

American Mold Guard, Inc. (americanmoldguard.com), founded in 2002, is the industry leader in the field of mold prevention services. Its services are primarily focused on the residential real estate construction industry in California, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida; with active expansion throughout the United States. Its customers include many of the largest national and regional home builders.

Agency / Source: NuMark Capital

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