Hurricane Beryl, which made landfall at the beginning of July this year broke records as the earliest Category 5 Atlantic hurricane ever which was attributed to warmer early-season ocean temperatures. This storm was another reminder of climate change and served to warn hurricane-prone communities that these storm seasons are becoming longer and more dangerous. These extreme weather events pose significant threats to society’s health, homes, and livelihoods in unforeseen ways.
While we can clearly see the catastrophic destruction caused by hurricanes like Katrina which devastated 800,000 US homes and left over a million people homeless for at least a month, hurricanes leave other damages that are not always addressed but are sometimes just as dangerous as the initial disaster. Immediate disaster response usually focuses on restoring power an access to food, housing, and water, as relief organizations come together to aid afflicted communities.
But what about the other damages that are left for hurricane survivors to face after the initial storm response?
For those individuals who can return home, the next step is to survey damages. A Sense of relief may come when a home appears to have survived the storm with little visible water damage. But, it is important not to write off water damage or to save it for a later home improvement project. Water damage and moisture left unchecked leave the opportunity for mold spores to grow and wreak havoc on your health.
Mold, which starts out as Mildew, will begin to grow only 24 to 48 hours after water exposure. Because it grows so quickly, and because it is often not immediately acted on by hurricane and flooding victims, it is safe to ‘assume that mold is already present in homes’ that have endured hurricanes and flooding events, according to the CDC. While this initial period is critical for homeowners, it is often very difficult to actually prevent. And, because mold is sneaky and often undetectable to our senses, it may grow unnoticed in our homes, in our cars, at our work, or amongst our belongings, for years, which can cause various health issues.
So what health issues may occur from mold?
Mold exposure is detrimental to our health and may cause and exacerbate health conditions. Acute exposure may lead people to have wheezing, coughing, itchy eyes, and other common cold symptoms. Prolonged exposure, however, may cause severe allergic responses, skin infections, asthma, and chronic respiratory illnesses. This makes it important to be aware of small changes to our health, particularly in the period coming out of hurricanes and flood events. Still, some types of mold and infections have long incubation periods, making it difficult for individuals and clinicians to connect its symptoms to an actual mold exposure event which slowly manifests after water damage has occurred.
Increases in severe hurricanes and flooding events and subsequent mold exposures have recently brought a lesser-known health condition, Invasive mold Infections (IMI)s, into the spotlight as well. Infection rates of IMI’s have markedly increased particularly in areas hit by extreme weather. After Hurricane Harvey hit Texas in 2023, IMI rates increased by 17.5% during the period after the hurricane. Infectious disease epidemiologists from the CDC who surveyed this disease emergence, attributed this rise in cases to mold exposure in homes impacted by the hurricane. While most of those who contracted an IMI were immunocompromised and at a greater risk of illness, researchers have warned that these pathogens are becoming more ‘virulent and potent’ as warming climates offer them favorable conditions for adaptation. IMI’s may soon pose a risk to healthier populations of people as well, and, as climate change continues to spread to areas that historically may face fewer threats of extreme weather events, the risk of mold exposure and contracting these IMI’s may also rise.
Experiences from contemporary pandemics like COVID-19 and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), have shown us that overlooking potential threats to emerging diseases leaves societies unprepared to effectively manage or respond to their future consequences. Climate change is a threat that will continue to impact societies in unprecedented ways, and it is unrealistic to assume immunity from its effects simply for living far away from those areas experiencing more extreme weather.
So, what is currently being done to prevent mold exposure after hurricanes?
The simple answer is: not enough. Without a ‘systematic surveillance’ system for mold exposure in the US, it is difficult to track down sources of mold exposure and those individuals who may be unknowingly exposed. Because rates of mold exposure have been shown to be connected to extreme weather events it could make sense for Disaster relief organizations to develop mold assessment and surveillance systems. For those, disaster-struck communities this would be particularly beneficial, especially since emergency assistance would extend past immediate and urgent needs as well as recognize the delayed, or secondary damages, like mold, which homes and victims often face.
Unfortunately, it is unlikely that aid or surveillance by these organizations will improve, or be offered even amidst the growing threat of climate change and subsequent mold exposure. FEMA, the main emergency response agency in the US, recently announced that there is not enough funds to cover this season’s projected relief needs because of record-breaking natural disasters. While this had only been speculatory, those communities hit by Hurricane Beryl in July saw this concern become a reality; FEMA began ‘denying requests for aid’ because of their limited budget and projected finances for this season. Although these disaster relief organizations have an ever-increasing need in our societies, the increasing cost of climate disasters is making it harder for them to provide aid and manage effective response.
It is essential for individuals to know how to prevent mold growth and to manage mold exposure when it happens in your home. To prepare for a hurricane or for a flooding event, protect areas of the home that may be vulnerable to water damage, especially where there are unsealed barriers. If your house is prone to flooding, protect or cover those belongings that might be in contact with water or mold growth.
After the hurricane, it’s important to remember that mold can grow within 24-48 hours in places where there was water exposure. For those individuals returning to their homes after the storm has passed, it is vitally important to check for signs of water damage and to take photos of any potentially affected areas of damage! This is often necessary for individuals hoping to file insurance claims.
When inspecting your home, look for warps in the walls, check your roof for leaks or damage, inspect those areas in your home with little light exposure, and take notice of discolorations or damages to your carpets, floors, and walls.
If you end up finding mold and plan to remove it yourself, make sure to use personal protective equipment to prevent skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion of mold. Additionally, use dehumidifiers and air conditioning units to dry up moisture in the air immediately after a hurricane, and open windows when cleaning out mold.
If you are unsure whether there is mold in your home, or if you notice small changes in your home or to your health in the time after a flooding event, it is best to contact professional mold remediation services to get it checked out and cleaned properly.
As extreme weather events are becoming more frequent across the US, we can learn how to protect ourselves and our homes from mold. By educating friends and family about the risks and prevention measures for mold exposure communities can be more resilient against the long-term impacts of these weather events, which can be just as devastating as the initial storm itself.
Mold exposure and IMI’s are yet another facet of climate change. As the climate crisis grows increasingly complex, it is even more necessary that we shift our focus beyond immediate disasters and prioritize long-term strategies that safeguard the health of communities today and in the future.
Alyssa is a graduate Public Health Student at Lund University in Sweden. Originally from New England, USA, she grew up in the mountains and is passionate about making sustainable systems in public health.