Severe natural disasters are leading to widespread mold growth in homes, creating a hidden public health crisis that affects millions across the United States.
After returning from what she described as the best internship of her life, Danae Daniels was eager to unwind and prepare for a new semester at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. However, upon entering her off-campus apartment, she was confronted with an overwhelming odor and a grim reality.
“There was mold in my bedroom, on my bed, mold in my expensive purse,” Daniels recalled. “Mold in my closet, my bathroom — literally everywhere.”
During her absence, a series of severe natural disasters had swept through the Tallahassee area, causing extensive damage. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, storms in the summer of 2024 inflicted billions of dollars in destruction, displacing families and leaving businesses in ruins.
The aftermath of these disasters extended beyond property damage. As the community struggled to recover, mold proliferated in homes and buildings throughout the city, transforming what began as a natural disaster into a prolonged public health crisis.
“If any part of a home is exposed to flooding or leaks and is not fully dried within 24 to 48 hours, mold growth is almost certain,” said Parham Azimi, a research associate at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Azimi studies the connection between mold exposure and respiratory health, particularly following natural disasters. “After major storms, we often see spikes in respiratory illnesses, especially in homes affected by flooding.”
In the United States, an estimated 47% of residential buildings harbor mold or dampness. As the latest hurricane season comes to a close, the threat of mold-related health risks remains significant.
With 29% of the U.S. population residing in flood-prone coastal counties, the risk of exposure to mold spores and allergens that can trigger respiratory illnesses is substantial, leaving approximately 95 million people vulnerable when extreme weather strikes. This figure does not account for individuals in inland areas that experience flooding, such as those in North Carolina and Tennessee, which faced severe flooding from Hurricane Helene last year, or residents affected by the Hill Country flooding in Texas this summer.
The health consequences of mold exposure can range from mild allergic reactions to severe respiratory conditions. Common symptoms include congestion, asthma flare-ups, and skin irritation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prolonged exposure can lead to more serious complications, such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis — a rare lung inflammation — and mycotoxin-related illnesses, which can result in neurological damage, liver disease, and kidney dysfunction.
Amid these challenges, a key federal program designed to assist with housing repairs after disasters, along with aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), faces uncertainty due to budget cuts and policy changes under the Trump administration.
One of the most concerning aspects of mold is that it often goes undetected for months or even years, leaving individuals unknowingly exposed.
Lauren Lowenstein, a resident of Houston, experienced this firsthand. “For five years, my family’s health kept declining, and we had no idea why,” she said.
After conducting an Environmental Relative Moldiness Index test, Lowenstein discovered that toxic mold spores had been growing inside the walls of her home due to excessive condensation in the HVAC system. She and her family had to vacate immediately and start anew.
“The mold wasn’t visible, and we had no indication that it was growing,” Lowenstein explained.
Even when mold is detected, remediation can be prohibitively expensive. According to the home service clearinghouse Angi, the average cost of mold remediation ranges from $1,223 to $3,751, with severe cases potentially exceeding $30,000. Even when home insurance covers mold, homeowners may still face significant out-of-pocket expenses.
Daniels, for instance, was compelled to leave her Tallahassee apartment and stay in a hotel for a month while awaiting relocation to a newly renovated unit. She also had to replace all of her belongings.
Azimi noted that the cost of remediation is often out of reach for many households, and affordable alternative housing can be difficult to find, resulting in continued exposure to mold.
“For low-income and marginalized communities, the risks are even greater,” Azimi said.
For those seeking government assistance, the wait times can be extensive. Rev. Mac Legerton, founder of the Robeson County Disaster Survival and Resiliency School in North Carolina, highlighted the dire situation. “In many cases, families are left to choose between living in unsafe conditions or homelessness,” he stated.
A 2019 review funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development of 88 disaster grants found that the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program began distributing funds to applicants an average of 20 months after the initial disaster, with disbursements often taking two years or longer.
“When it comes to our disaster response system, mold remediation is one of the most neglected areas at the local, state, and national levels,” Legerton remarked.
Legerton’s organization operates a “mold busters” program, which provides hands-on training and education to equip residents in Robeson County with the knowledge and tools needed to safely remove mold from homes, churches, and businesses following natural disasters. The program also offers free mold remediation services to vulnerable communities, created in response to the lack of timely aid in the area.
Tanya Locklear faced a similar struggle after Hurricanes Matthew and Florence severely damaged her home in Pembroke, North Carolina, in 2016 and 2018, respectively, ultimately leaving it contaminated with mold.
Locklear applied for assistance through North Carolina’s ReBuild NC program in August 2021 but did not receive approval until November 2023. Repairs finally began in February 2024, more than two years after her application.
Local advocacy efforts, including pressure from community leaders and Legerton’s organization, helped advance her case. However, Locklear noted that the initial delays had already impacted her family’s health and well-being. While waiting for aid, she and her children remained in hazardous mold-infested conditions, suffering from health complications such as headaches, nosebleeds, and difficulty breathing.
Even today, Locklear continues to experience various respiratory issues, highlighting the long-term risks associated with prolonged exposure to mold.
Legerton believes that lawmakers and policymakers must prioritize streamlining disaster relief programs to ensure effective and timely aid distribution for affected families and communities nationwide. He also advocates for increased funding for mold remediation to prevent displacement and long-term health consequences, as well as the implementation of stronger building codes and flood-resistant housing designs in disaster-prone areas.
As Azimi warns, without proactive policies, millions more will face prolonged exposure to unhealthy living conditions. “As climate change intensifies, hurricanes and severe storms will become more frequent and destructive, increasing the risk of mold-related illnesses,” he said.
Source: Original article