file photo by Boyd Loving
Sandy Cough Plagues Homeowners Cleaning Up
“Every morning I wake up coughing,” says one Staten Island homeowner
By Marc Santia
| Wednesday, Nov 28, 2012 | Updated 12:38 PM ES
Patrick Zoda has been working nonstop for a month, trying to save his Staten Island home after it was badly damaged by Sandy. As he works, the debris cloud filling his house has also been filling his lungs.
“I feel totally drained, tired,” Zoda told NBC 4 New York. “Every morning I wake up coughing.”
Dr. Brahim Ardolic, chairman of Emergency Medicine at Staten Island University Hospital, says he has seen a greater number of patients with respiratory issues in recent weeks, mostly in people with pre-existing conditions. The combination of flu season and Sandy cleanup — which has brought unhygienic conditions, dirty water and mold into homes — is a perfect storm for sickness, he says.