Mold After Flood or Hurricane: Texas Cleanup Guide

Fast. The EPA says that when things remain wet for more than 24 to 48 hours, they usually get moldy, and that floodwater can also carry biological and chemical contaminants indoors. The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) tells homeowners to dry wet areas quickly because mold can start within a day.

Mold may not be visible right away. The EPA and CDC cleanup guide notes it can be hidden under or behind carpet, cushions or walls. If your home sat wet for days, plan as if it is there.

Texas sees flood-driven mold problems on a large scale. When Hurricane Harvey came ashore near Port Aransas on August 25, 2017, as a Category 4 storm, the National Weather Service recorded rainfall totals as high as 56 inches near Friendswood, and Harris County officials estimated that nearly 136,000 structures flooded.

Hurricane Beryl made landfall near Matagorda around 4 a.m. on July 8, 2024, as a Category 1 storm. The Texas Comptroller reported it left millions of Texans without electricity and caused significant flooding and structural damage. Power loss matters for mold: fans, dehumidifiers and air conditioning are the main drying tools, and the CDC says to use them only once electricity is safe to use.

The EPA and CDC homeowner guide says to wait to re-enter until professionals say it is safe, with no structural, electrical or other hazards. Before you go in:

• Check for hazards. Look for loose power lines or gas leaks, make sure electricity and gas are off, and watch for sagging ceilings or floors.
• Keep vulnerable people out. The guide says people with breathing problems like asthma or weakened immune systems should stay away from moldy sites, and children should not take part in disaster cleanup.
• Wear protection. At minimum, an N-95 respirator, goggles without vent holes, and non-latex, vinyl, nitrile or rubber gloves. For long jobs like tearing out drywall, the guide suggests a half-face or full-face respirator.
• Run generators outside. Use portable generators outside and at least 20 feet from buildings, never in a house or garage, to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

The EPA and CDC guide says mold exposure can lead to asthma attacks, eye and skin irritation, and allergic reactions, and the CDC notes that immune-compromised people and people with chronic lung disease may get lung infections from mold. If symptoms show up or get worse after cleanup, see a doctor. A doctor, not a mold test, diagnoses illness, and the CDC says testing can't reliably show who might get sick.

Insurance and FEMA both run on proof. The EPA and CDC guide says to contact your insurance company and take pictures of the home and your belongings before you start cleanup. The CDC adds: take photos of discarded items for insurance claims.

TDI says it's generally OK to make temporary repairs, but not to make permanent repairs until you've talked to your insurer. Keep receipts for fans, dehumidifier rentals, tarps and cleaning supplies.

These steps come from the EPA and CDC Homeowner's and Renter's Guide to Mold Cleanup After Disasters and the CDC's 8 tips to clean mold:

1. Put on your protective gear (respirator, goggles, gloves).
2. Remove standing water and wet materials. Use a wet vacuum on floors, carpets and hard surfaces.
3. Open up the house. Open doors and windows while you work. Open closets, cabinets and vanities, pull out drawers to dry, and open the attic access.
4. Dry with fans and dehumidifiers once power is safe. Don't use fans if mold has already started to grow, because they may spread it.
5. Clean hard surfaces with water and detergent. Remove all visible mold and dry right away.
6. Never mix cleaners. Bleach and ammonia together create toxic vapors. For more on cleaning products, see our vinegar vs. bleach guide.
7. Don't paint or caulk over mold. Fix the water problem and clean all the mold first.
8. Shower and change clothes after you leave the site so you don't carry mold back to where you're staying.

Drying the house

The EPA's general target is to keep indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally between 30 and 50 percent. On the humid Gulf Coast, that usually means running dehumidifiers with windows closed once the house has been aired out. Our dehumidifier guide explains sizing.

Don't use a flooded heating and cooling system to dry the house. The EPA says that if floodwater reached any part of your ducts or HVAC system, do not use it until a professional says it is safe, since it can spread debris and mold spores through the house.

The rule from the EPA and CDC is simple: throw away anything that was wet with floodwater and can't be cleaned and dried completely within 24 to 48 hours.

The EPA notes that wet or moldy items can be bagged for disposal or set aside for later cleaning, and debris should be sorted and placed curbside as your city directs.

Usually not. The EPA and CDC guide says sampling for mold is not usually recommended, because whatever kind of mold is present, you still need to clean it up and fix the moisture. The EPA lists exceptions: sampling may help when litigation is involved, the source is unclear, or health concerns are a problem.

In Texas, a licensed mold assessor also plays a formal role after professional remediation: writing the cleanup protocol and signing off at the end. See is mold testing worth it and clearance testing.

The EPA says many people can handle a moldy area smaller than about 10 square feet, and the disaster guide warns the job may be too difficult or dangerous to do yourself after a flood.

Texas law adds a few rules:

• Homeowners can do their own work. An owner of a residential property with fewer than 10 units doesn't need a license to remediate it.
• Hired help needs a license for bigger jobs. Anyone you pay to remediate mold covering 25 contiguous square feet or more must hold a TDLR mold remediation license.
• Testing and removal are separate companies. A license holder may not do both mold assessment and remediation on the same project.

So after a big flood, you'll typically hire a licensed mold testing company to write the protocol and a separate licensed mold removal company to do the work. Corpus Christi homeowners can start with Corpus Christi mold removal, and statewide listings are on our Texas page. Our remediation process guide explains what happens on the job.

Homeowners insurance usually won't pay for flood mold. TDI says mold from a flood isn't covered because home policies don't cover floods. Flood damage needs a separate flood policy, and FEMA says even NFIP flood policies won't cover mold damage, except for possible considerations when officials barred entry or floodwater kept you from reaching the home. Wind damage is different: if wind let water in and your policy covers wind, mold on items damaged by a covered peril may be covered. Coastal homeowners with a TWIA wind policy have one year from the date of damage to file. More detail is in does insurance cover mold.

FEMA assistance. FEMA's Individuals and Households Program can provide money for temporary housing and to repair or replace a primary home you own, along with other uninsured or under-insured disaster costs. FEMA says this help "is not a substitute for insurance." You can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov, by phone or in person. The FEMA Helpline is 800-621-3362, and FEMA says it never charges a fee for an inspection.

Renters after a flood. If your rental is totally unusable after a casualty loss you didn't cause, Texas law lets either you or the landlord end the lease in writing before repairs are finished. Landlords must also give tenants a written floodplain and flood-history notice before signing a lease. See mold in your apartment in Texas.

TDI warns that out-of-town scam artists may be the first to arrive at your front door after a disaster. Its advice, along with FEMA's:

• Get at least three written bids so you can spot prices that are too high or too good to be true.
• Never sign a contract with blank spaces, which can be filled in later with higher costs.
• Don't pay big money up front. After a disaster, TDI says it's against the law for out-of-town contractors to ask for a down payment before they start. FEMA says don't pay more than half of repair costs up front.
• Refuse deductible waivers. Waiving or hiding your deductible in a bid is illegal in Texas. TDI says to report it to the Texas Attorney General at 800-621-0508.
• Verify license and insurance. FEMA says to verify the contractor's license and insurance. For mold work, check the company and the individual on our Texas mold license check, which pulls TDLR records daily (how we verify). Texas mold licensees must also carry at least $1 million in general liability insurance.
• Report fraud. Call the National Center for Disaster Fraud at 866-720-5721, the line FEMA lists for disaster fraud, or the TDI Help Line at 800-252-3439.