Chinese drywall? Call your insurance company
There is an urgent message for people who may have Chinese Drywall in their homes: Contact your insurance company right away. Wednesday night, builders from across Southwest Florida tried to get a grasp on the Chinese drywall epidemic that's spread throughout the state and beyond. Dr. David Krause is the Florida Health Department Toxicologist who has been heading up the investigation into potential health risks. 

MANBC
Chinese drywall? Call your insurance company
 

FORT MYERS: There is an urgent message for people who may have Chinese Drywall in their homes: Contact your insurance company right away.

 Wednesday night, builders from across Southwest Florida tried to get a grasp on the Chinese drywall epidemic that's spread throughout the state and beyond.

 Dr. David Krause is the Florida Health Department Toxicologist who has been heading up the investigation into potential health risks.

 As part of this panel Wednesday, he fielded questions about where testing stands.

 "We are trying to move forward in a scientifically sound manner and not raise alarm," said Dr. Krause.

 In preliminary testing, the department hasn't found any evidence of health effects, but continues to receive complaints of asthmatic and allergy-like symptoms from affected homes.

 Krause told builders while more in-depth testing continues, he'll establish an easier way for builders to determine if a home in fact has the defective drywall.

 "Issue a case definition, so that when a builder has a call they can check 1,2,3,4,5," Krause said.

 On the legal side of things, there is some bad news. Builders learned that Chinese drywall manufacturer Knauf does not have insurance.

 "I have a letter back from that one company - and there are other manufacturers - that says they didn't have insurance. That doesn't mean we won't find somebody else responsible that did," said Geoff Gentile of the Boyle and Gentile Law Firm.

 Lawyers say if you're a homeowner, builder, subcontractor, or supplier, you should put your own insurance company on notice and see what help it can offer.

 Dr. Krause cautions that there are going to be a lot of instant experts overnight on this topic.

 His best advice whether you're a homeowner or builder - do your homework, ask for references, and realize that unfortunately, there is no easy fix to this problem.
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