Danae Daniels returned from what she described as the best internship of her life, eager to relax and begin a new semester at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. But opening the door to her off-campus apartment brought a sickening smell and a devastating realization.
“There was mold in my bedroom, on my bed, on my most expensive purse,” Daniels recounted, her voice still laced with disbelief. “Mold in the closet, in the bathroom, literally everywhere.”
Her absence coincided with a brutal series of natural disasters that had ravaged the Tallahassee area, leaving widespread damage. These storms of the summer of 2024 caused billions of dollars in losses, displaced countless families, and crippled numerous businesses.
But the damage extended far beyond the physical. As the community began to rebuild, mold took hold in homes and buildings throughout the city, transforming a natural disaster into a prolonged health crisis.
“If any part of a home is exposed to flooding or leaks and isn’t fully dried within 24 to 48 hours, mold growth is almost guaranteed,” explained Parham Azimi, a researcher at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, studying the link between mold exposure and respiratory health following disasters.
“After a major storm, we consistently see an increase in respiratory illnesses, particularly in homes that were flooded,” he added, highlighting the insidious nature of the threat.
Nearly half of all U.S. homes – an estimated 47% – already contain moisture or mold. This means the health risks associated with mold persist long after hurricane season ends. With 29% of the U.S. population living in flood-prone coastal counties, roughly 95 million people are potentially vulnerable to mold spores and allergens that can trigger respiratory problems.
The danger isn’t limited to coastal regions. Inland areas, like the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, which experienced severe flooding after Hurricane Helene last year, and the mountainous regions of Texas, overwhelmed by summer rains, also face significant risks.
The health consequences range from mild allergic reactions to serious respiratory conditions. Common symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), include nasal congestion, asthma attacks, and skin irritation. Prolonged exposure can lead to more severe complications, such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis – a rare lung inflammation – and illnesses caused by mycotoxins, which can affect the nervous system, liver, and kidneys.
One of the most frightening aspects of mold is its often-undetectable presence. It can lurk for months, even years, silently impacting health. Lauren Lowenstein of Houston knows this firsthand. “For five years, my family’s health was declining, and we didn’t know why,” she said.
An Environmental Relative Moldiness Index test revealed toxic mold growing within her home’s walls, fueled by excessive condensation in the air conditioning system. Lowenstein, her husband, and their two children were forced to abandon their home immediately and start over.
“The mold wasn’t visible, and we had no indication it was growing,” she explained, illustrating how easily this hidden danger can go unnoticed.
Even when detected, mold remediation is expensive. The average cost ranges from $1,222 to $3,751, according to home services platform Angi, but can easily exceed $30,000 in severe cases. Insurance often covers only a portion of the expense, leaving many families struggling to afford a complete solution.
Danae Daniels had to leave her Tallahassee apartment and spend a month in a hotel while awaiting relocation to a renovated unit. She also faced the daunting task of replacing all her belongings, a financial burden many cannot bear.
“For low-income and marginalized communities, the risks are even greater,” Azimi emphasized, highlighting the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations. Access to safe housing and effective remediation is often limited, forcing continued exposure.
For those seeking government assistance, the wait can be agonizingly long. Reverend Mac Legerton, founder of the Disaster Survival and Resiliency School in Robeson County, North Carolina, lamented, “In many cases, families must choose between living in unsafe conditions or becoming homeless.”
A 2019 review of 88 disaster subsidies, funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, revealed that the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program took an average of 20 months to distribute requested funds after an initial disaster. In many instances, disbursements took two years or more.
“In our disaster response system, mold remediation is one of the most overlooked areas at the local, state, and national levels,” Legerton stated, underscoring the systemic neglect of this critical issue.
Legerton’s organization runs a “mold hunter” program, providing training and practical education to residents of Robeson County, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to safely remove mold from homes, churches, and businesses after disasters. They also offer free mold removal services to vulnerable communities, born out of the need for timely assistance.
Tanya Locklear experienced this firsthand after Hurricanes Matthew and Florence damaged her home in Pembroke, North Carolina, in 2016 and 2018. Her home became contaminated with mold. She applied for assistance through the state’s ReBuild NC program in August 2021, but her request wasn’t approved until November 2023. Repairs began in February 2024 – more than two years after her initial application.
Locklear said her case only progressed after the efforts of local advocates, including pressure from community leaders and Legerton’s organization. But the initial delays had already taken a toll on her family’s health. While waiting for help, Locklear and her children continued to live in mold-infested conditions, suffering headaches, nosebleeds, and respiratory difficulties.
Even today, Locklear continues to experience respiratory problems, demonstrating the long-term consequences of living in mold-infested homes. Legerton insists that lawmakers and officials must streamline disaster aid programs to ensure effective and rapid assistance reaches affected families and communities nationwide.
Legerton and other public health experts also advocate for increased funding for mold cleanup and remediation to prevent displacement and long-term health problems. They also emphasize the need for stricter building codes and flood-resistant housing designs to reduce mold risks in vulnerable areas.
Without preventative policies, Azimi warned, millions could 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 concluded.
