Mold After a Hurricane or Flood: A Step-by-Step Guide for Lake Charles Homes
Southwest Louisiana knows storm water better than most places. Hurricane Laura made landfall at Cameron on August 27, 2020, and the National Weather Service says its eye and eyewall passed over the entire Lake Charles metro, including Sulphur, Westlake and Moss Bluff. Six weeks later, Hurricane Delta came ashore near Creole, tore off tarps still covering Laura-damaged roofs, and dropped 12 to 18 inches of rain across parts of the region. Then in May 2021, Lake Charles got more than a foot of rain in a single day.
Whether you're dealing with water from the next storm or wondering about a house that was repaired after those events, the approach to mold is the same: get the water out, remove what can't be dried, and make sure nothing got closed up wet.
Step 1: Make it safe before you go in
The CDC's disaster cleanup guidance comes first for a reason:
- Stay out of damaged buildings until they're confirmed safe, and go back in daylight.
- If electrical equipment got wet, turn off power at the main breaker, but call an electrician if you'd have to stand in water to reach it.
- Never run a generator or pressure washer indoors or near open windows or doors, because of carbon monoxide.
- Treat floodwater as contaminated. Wear rubber boots, gloves, and goggles, and an N-95 respirator when working around mold.
Step 2: Photograph everything first
Before you drag anything to the curb, take photos and video of every room, the water line on the walls, and damaged belongings. Keep receipts for anything you buy for cleanup. Insurance and assistance programs will ask for this, and it's impossible to recreate once the debris pile is gone.
Step 3: Dry out fast
The CDC says to dry your home within 24 to 48 hours if possible. After a major storm that's often unrealistic, but start as soon as you safely can:
- Open doors and windows when the outdoor air is drier than inside, and use fans to push air outside.
- Run dehumidifiers and AC once power is back and the system hasn't been flooded.
- Pull up wet carpet and pad.
In our heat and humidity, mold doesn't wait long. The Gulf States Newsroom, reporting on Lake Charles' recovery, noted that the region's heat and humidity allow mold to set in after a few short days.
Step 4: Remove what can't be saved
The CDC's list is blunt. Throw away anything you can't clean or dry quickly, including mattresses, carpet and pad, upholstered furniture, pillows, stuffed toys, and paper products. It also says to remove and discard drywall and insulation that has been contaminated with floodwater or sewage.
In practice, crews often cut wet drywall out in a straight line above the highest point the water reached so the insulation and framing behind it can dry, a technique usually called a "flood cut." How high to cut depends on how high the water rose and how far it wicked up the wall. Take photos of the water line before any cuts are made.
Hard surfaces like studs, concrete, tile, and metal can usually be cleaned with hot water and detergent and dried. The CDC says a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of bleach per gallon of water can be used on mold on hard surfaces. Never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners.
Step 5: Don't close it up wet
This is where a lot of post-storm mold problems start. Framing, subfloor, and slab can feel dry on the surface while still holding moisture. If new drywall, insulation, or flooring goes over wet materials, mold can grow behind the finished wall where no one sees it.
Before rebuilding, the structure should be checked with a moisture meter and dried, not just left to air out for a few days. The EPA is clear that cleanup isn't finished until the water or moisture problem is fixed and visible mold and moldy odors are gone.
Homes repaired after Laura and Delta
Plenty of Calcasieu Parish homes were gutted and rebuilt quickly after 2020, often while contractors were stretched thin and tarps were leaking through a second hurricane. If your home was repaired then, watch for:
- A musty smell in one room or closet, especially after rain
- Staining or bubbling paint low on walls or around windows
- Floors that are soft, cupping, or separating, especially in raised homes where moisture can stay trapped in the crawl space
- Stains on ceilings under areas where the roof was tarped
None of these prove there's mold, but they're signs moisture may still be getting in, or was sealed in.
When to call a professional
The EPA says homeowners can usually handle mold under about 10 square feet. After a hurricane or flood, the affected area is almost always larger, and the EPA recommends a professional experienced with contaminated water when sewage or floodwater is involved. Call for help when water got into walls, floors, or the crawl space, or when mold is spreading across more than a small patch.
After a disaster, be careful who you hire. Get written estimates, check references, and don't sign over your insurance benefits without understanding what you're agreeing to. In Louisiana, mold remediation jobs of $7,500 or more require a mold remediation license from the LSLBC, and you can look up any contractor's license on the board's website.
If water is still in the house or the structure is soaked, start with water damage restoration. West of the river, read about mold remediation in Sulphur.
One call connects you with a local pro. Call (337) 477-3723 to describe what the storm left behind and get a free, no-pressure quote.
Frequently asked questions
How soon does mold grow after a flood?
The CDC and EPA both point to 24 to 48 hours as the window for drying wet materials. Materials that stay wet longer than that are at risk of mold, and in Southwest Louisiana's humidity, growth can follow quickly.
Do I have to tear out drywall that got wet in a flood?
The CDC says drywall and insulation contaminated by floodwater or sewage should be removed and discarded. Drywall wet with clean water from a roof leak is sometimes dried in place, but a pro should check whether the wall cavity is dry.
Can I rebuild as soon as the walls look dry?
Not safely. Framing and subfloor can hold moisture well after the surface feels dry. Check it with a moisture meter before closing walls or laying flooring.
Does flood insurance cover mold?
Flood policies through the NFIP can cover mold that results from a flood, but generally not mold from conditions you could have controlled after the water receded. Document damage and start drying as soon as it's safe. Your insurer decides what's covered.
Lake Charles Mold Pros connects homeowners with independent local mold remediation professionals.