TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — After returning from the best internship of her life, Danae Daniels was excited to relax and start a new semester at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. But when she opened the door to her off-campus apartment, she was faced with an overwhelming smell and a devastating reality.
“There was mold in my bedroom, on my bed and even on my expensive purse,” Daniels said. “There was mold everywhere – in the closet, in the bathroom, literally everywhere.”
During her absence, a series of serious natural disasters swept through the Tallahassee area, causing widespread damage. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, a storm in the summer of 2024 could cause billions of dollars It causes destruction, displaces families and ruins businesses.
This caused more than just property damage. As the community worked to recover, mold developed in homes and other buildings across the city, turning a natural disaster into a long-term crisis with public health implications.
“If any part of your home is exposed to flooding or water leaks and is not completely dried within 24 to 48 hours, it is almost certain that mold will develop,” he said. Parham AzimiHe is a researcher at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health who studies the link between mold exposure and respiratory health, particularly from natural disasters. “After major storms, we often see a spike in respiratory illnesses, especially in homes affected by flooding.”
the basis of the problem
calculation 47% of residential buildings In the United States, there is mold and moisture. So even though the latest hurricane season is over, the threat of mold-related health hazards still remains.
and 29% of the national population If you live in a coastal county prone to flooding, your risk of exposure to mold spores and allergens that can cause respiratory illness is enormous, leaving an estimated 95 million people vulnerable when severe weather strikes. This does not include people who live in flood-prone inland areas, such as the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, which experienced extensive flooding from Hurricane Helen last year, or whose homes were drenched. Hill Country Flooding in Texas This summer.
Health effects from mold exposure can range from mild allergic reactions to serious respiratory problems. Common symptoms include: Congestion, asthma flare-ups, and skin irritationAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Long-term exposure can cause more serious complications, including: hypersensitivity pneumonitis – rare lung inflammation – and Mycotoxin-related diseasesThis can cause nerve damage, liver disease, and kidney dysfunction.
Now one key federal program Helpful with home repairs in the event of a disaster Support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency is problem Due to President Donald Trump’s budget cuts and policy changes.
One of the biggest dangers of mold is that it often goes undetected for months or years, leaving people unknowingly exposed to it.
Houston’s Lauren Lowenstein knows that all too well. “For five years, our family’s health continued to decline, and we had no idea why,” she said.
After carrying out Environmental Relative Fungal Index Lowenstein said tests found toxic mold spores growing inside the home’s walls due to excessive condensation from the HVAC system. She, her husband, and their two children had to immediately leave home and start over.
“There was no visible mold, no sign of it growing,” Lowenstein said.
Even if mold is found, removing it is an expensive task. Mold removal on average Prices range from $1,223 to $3,751.In severe cases, prices can reach $30,000 or more, according to home services clearinghouse Angi. Even if mold is covered by home insurance, people may incur some costs.
For example, Daniels had to find a hotel for a month while waiting to leave her Tallahassee apartment and move into a newly renovated apartment. She had to replace all of her belongings.
The cost of remediation still puts it out of reach for many households, and alternative but affordable housing can be difficult to find, which means ongoing mold exposure, Azimi said.
“For low-income and marginalized communities, the risks are much greater,” Azimi said.
For those seeking government assistance, wait times can be long, says founder Reverend Mac Legerton. Robeson County Disaster Survival and Resiliency School In North Carolina. “In many cases, families are forced to choose between living in unsafe conditions and experiencing homelessness.”
no way 2019 review Among the 88 disaster grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program has begun distributing funds to applicants. Average 20 months After the initial disaster, payments may take more than two years.
“Mold remediation is one of the most neglected areas of the disaster response system at the local, state and national levels,” Legerton said.
Legerton’s organization runs the “Mold Busters” program, a hands-on training and education initiative that provides Robeson County residents with the tools and knowledge they need to safely remove mold from homes, churches and businesses after a natural disaster. The program also provides free mold remediation services to underserved communities. He said the bill was created in response to the lack of timely assistance to communities in central North Carolina.
Waiting comes with a price
Tanya Locklear faced this reality after Hurricanes Matthew and Florence caused significant damage to her home in Pembroke, North Carolina, in 2016 and 2018, respectively, and eventually contaminated it with mold.
She applied for assistance through North Carolina. NC Rebuild She said she joined the government program in August 2021 but was not approved until November 2023. She said repairs finally began in February 2024, more than two years after she applied.
It was only after local advocacy efforts, including pressure from community leaders and Legerton organizations, that her case moved forward, Locklear said.
But she said the initial delays had already taken a toll on her family’s health and well-being. While waiting for help, Locklear and her children remained in the dangerous conditions of their moldy home. She said she and her family suffered health complications, including headaches, nosebleeds and difficulty breathing.
Locklear said she still suffers from a variety of respiratory problems today, showing the long-term risks of remaining in a mold-infested home.
Legerton, who works with his group in North Carolina, believes lawmakers and policymakers should focus on streamlining disaster relief programs to ensure effective and timely distribution of relief to affected families and communities across the country.
According to Legerton and public health experts, government officials should also increase funding for mold remediation to help prevent displacement and long-term health problems, and implement stronger building codes and flood-resistant home designs to mitigate mold risks in disaster-prone areas. Without proactive policies, millions of people will be exposed to unhealthy living conditions for long periods of time, Azimi said.
“As climate change intensifies, hurricanes and severe storms will become more frequent and destructive, increasing the risk of mold-related diseases,” Azimi said.
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