AUSTIN, Texas — Before you bring any items into your FEMA/Texas General Land Office (GLO) manufactured housing unit, protect your health by discarding or treating items that are possibly contaminated by microbial growth.

If you find signs of microorganisms, such as mold, in your belongings, act quickly. Cleaning these items quickly and properly helps make your temporary home a healthier place to live.

It can be hard to get rid of a favorite chair, a child’s doll or any other precious treasure to safeguard the well-being of your loved ones and your new home. But, the best defense is to clean, dry or, as a last resort, discard contaminated items.

Before you move into your manufactured housing unit, check your belongings for materials that are prone to microbial growth, such as:

Wood and upholstered furniture, and other porous materials

Glass, plastic and metal objects and other items made of hardened or nonporous materials

If you think your belongings have microbial growth, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that you dry them as soon as possible. Other tips from the EPA include:

Scrub the mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water

Microbial growth can grow on or fill in the empty spaces and crevices of porous materials. You may have to dispose of absorbent or porous materials if they have growth

If you are unsure of how to clean an item or if it is an expensive or sentimental item, you may wish to consult a specialist

For more tips, visit: https://www.epa.gov/mold/mold-cleanup-your-home or https://www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home.

Cleaned items can take several days to dry thoroughly, so start the cleaning process a few days before your move-in date.

Once you move into your temporary unit, if you have a concern about the function of the unit or find microbial growth in the unit, contact the maintenance number you were provided when you moved in.

By appointment, the maintenance staff will conduct visual inspections and look at the components of the unit. If the unit is not working properly or has microbial growth issues, FEMA will work with you to identify a temporary housing solution that best fits your needs.

For more information on Hurricane Harvey and Texas recovery, visit the FEMA Hurricane Harvey disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4332, the FEMA Harvey Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FEMAharvey, the FEMA Region 6 Twitter account at twitter.com/FEMARegion6 or the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at www.dps.texas.gov/dem/.